ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – The University of New Mexico men’s soccer team won its spring home opener Saturday by way of a 4-2 result over Fort Lewis at Robertson Field. With the match tied 2-2 late, the Lobos got goals from Olav Hovstad and Wayde Scibilia to pull away.
“Our quality showed throughout the match,” UNM head coach Jeremy Fishbein said. “We scored two late to win 4-2. Overall we were a little casual in our approach to the game, but it’s hard to recreate the atmosphere we usually play in front of when it’s the spring and a day game.”
Niko Hansen opened the scoring for UNM in the 21st minute. Junior college transfer Yuri Domiciano started the attack with a nice buildup down the left side. He centered it and found Josh Goss near the top of the 18-yard box. Goss cooly surveyed the situation and found Hansen inside the box on the right side. Hansen calmly slid it past the keeper to the far post to give the Lobos a 1-0 advantage.
Chris Wehan doubled the lead seven minutes later. Lucas Seligman lofted a beautiful cross into the box where Wehan was all alone. His head beat the keeper to make it 2-0 about midway through the first half.
“There were some good goals,” Fishbein said, “but I think we got a little comfortable when we went up 2-0. We made two errors, to be honest, and let Fort Lewis back into it.”
The Skyhawks tied it in the second half due to those Lobo mistakes, but the UNM offense responded. Hovstad tallied in the 87th minute to put the Lobos in front, and his cross from the left to the right just a minute later found Scibilia who headed it far post to finish off the Skyhawks.
“Anytime you score four goals it’s a good offensive outing, but I think we had the opportunity to score more,” said Fishbeing. “Defensively we didn’t allow them many chances. They just took advantage of two mistakes.
The Lobos host Air Force at 1:30 p.m. next Saturday, April 4 at Robertson Field. It will be their final home match of the spring.
“We have three games left, and we need to ratchet up the intensity,” Fishbein said. “I’m expecting a better performance next week.”
Scoring Summary
New Mexico (21′): Hansen (Goss)
New Mexico (28): Wehan (Seligman)
Fort Lewis (52′)
Fort Lewis (82)
New Mexico (87′): Hovstad
New Mexico (88′): Scibilia (Hovstad)
Cautions
Fort Lewis: YC
Starting Lineup
New Mexico: Beaulieu(GK), Seligman, Gurule, Rochowski, Domiciano, Goss, Wehan, Dye, Dorsey, Hansen, Scibilia
Next up
The Lobos host Air Force on Saturday, April 4 at Robertson Field at 1:30 p.m. for their final home match of the spring.