NORFOLK, Va. – The No. 22 University of New Mexico men’s soccer team fell to host Old Dominion in the Conference USA Tournament quarterfinals 2-1 Wednesday evening. Despite Chris Wehan’s 10th goal of the season, UNM allowed two goals in the last 15 minutes to fall to the Monarchs.
“It was a really disappointing loss,” UNM head coach Jeremy Fishbein said. “We were up in the game, and I thought we were pretty comfortable, but they started putting a lot of pressure on us. I don’t know if we had enough fight in us.”
The Lobos (11-6-1) were also forced to play without two of their most vital players in midfielder Ben McKendry and defender Mathew Gibbons.
“It was a really stressful game with a last-minute scratch in Mattie Gibbons who got really sick on the trip and couldn’t even come to the game,” Fishbein said. “Then Ben McKendry didn’t make the trip, and they’re two of our more physical, mature players. Missing them made it even more difficult.”
The Monarchs (10-6-1) had the first chance of the game when Oniel Fisher was called for a handball just outside the box in the 13th minute, but the ensuing free kick was punched clear by Jason Beaulieu.
The Lobos then had the next opportunity when Sam Gleadle was taken down just outside the box in the 20th minute. Wehan’s shot was blocked high resulting in a corner, but Josh Goss was just barely unable to connect with Niko Hansen at the near post and the threat was cancelled.
Hansen had a couple more chances to break the deadlock a few minutes after that, but his first try was right at the keeper, and his second was deflected just enough to stay out of goal.
Wehan’s goal came after Kevin Correa was taken down just outside the 18-yard box. He drilled a perfect free kick that hit the bottom of the crossbar and found the net for his 10th of the year.
After the break, ODU had the better play to start but never truly threatened. In the 63rd minute, though, James Rogers had a chance on a bicycle kick in the box from about 12 yards, but it hit the crossbar and went high.
The Monarchs’ pressure eventually came through, though, and they tied the match in the 75th minute.
In the 81st minute Lucas Seligman played a nice through ball to James Rogers, but he went down in the box among three ODU players but no foul was committed and play continued.
Just four minutes later, though, the Monarchs took the lead as the ball was chipped over the fingers of Beaulieu. Kevin Correa had UNM’s last best chance, but his shot aimed for the far post in the 88th minute was saved over the bar.
The Lobos are now at the mercy of the NCAA selection committee. The selection show is scheduled for Monday at 11 a.m. MT and will be streamed at NCAA.com.
Scoring Summary
New Mexico (38:24): Wehan (free kick)
Old Dominion (74:19): Rivera (Miralrio)
Old Dominion (84:11): Rivera (Hill)
Cautions
New Mexico: Correa, yellow (85:07); Fisher (88:32)
Old Dominion: Rivera, yellow (43:15); Schroeer, yellow (74:29); Nelson, yellow (84:38)
Lineups
New Mexico: Beaulieu (GK), McGovern, Miele, Rogers, Fisher, Hansen, Wehan, Gurule, Dye, Goss, Gleadle
Old Dominion: Tiesenhausen (GK), Hagan, Macsicza, Condotta, Stringer, Rivera, Milralrio, Hutchinson, Edwards, Schroeer, Nelson
Notes
- Wehan is the third Lobo in the last four years to score at least 10 goals in a season joining Blake Smith (10, 2011) and Devon Sandoval (15, 2012)
- After appearing in all 17 games this season as a substitute, Gleadle made his first career start in the midfield
- Fisher made his first start of the season at left back for UNM after starting 15 in the midfield
Next up
The NCAA selection show is Monday at 11 a.m. MT, and it will be streamed at NCAA.com.