Lobo Soccer- at UNM Soccer Complex (6,200)
When: Wednesday at 7 p.m. (MT)
Who: Grand Canyon University Antelopes
GoLobos.com: Postgame recap
Weather Forecast: 83 degrees, clear, wind at 10 mph
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Coming off a win in its exhibition opener, the University of New Mexico men’s soccer team hosts Grand Canyon University in its second and final home exhibition contest of the 2015 season on Wednesday night at 7. The Lobos, who defeated Air Force 2-1 on Saturday, will look to continue to build on that momentum ahead of their final exhibition match this Saturday at Denver University. Right now the Lobos continue to focus on certain aspects of their game while working towards their regular-season opener: at No. 1 UCLA on Sept. 29.
UNM should be close to full strength against the Antelopes. Patrick Khouri is back after playing in Olympic qualifying matches with Jamaica’s U23 team and will play. Niko Hansen, who recently trained with the USMNT at its collegate identification camp, should also return to action, as should incoming transfer Yuri Domiciano, who was a junior college All-American at Iowa Western last year.
Admission is once again FREE for all fans and it will be UNM’s last home match until the regular-season home opener on Sept. 4. Fans are encouraged to attend and cheer on their Lobos!
Series Record: 3-2-1
Home: 3-1-0; Away: 0-1-1; Neutral: 0-0-0
Last meeting: The Lobos and Antelopes have not met in the regular season since 1996 when the teams played to a 4-4 draw in Phoenix.
Up Next: UNM concludes its preseason schedule at Denver on Saturday, Aug. 22 at 7 p.m.
SCOUTING GRAND CANYON … The Antelopes were picked eighth in the WAC preseason poll, but first-year head coach Schellas Hyndman has brought in 14 newcomers to the team after last season’s disappointing 5-12-3 finish. Back are Alberto Sanchez Garcia (8G, 2A, 18 pts) and Niki Jackson (5G, 3A, 13 pts) who finished 1-2 in scoring for the Lopes in 2014. Nobody else had more than four points, however.
A LEADER AMONG LEADERS … Head Coach Jeremy Fishbein continues to build his coaching legacy at New Mexico. The 2015 season will be Fishbein’s 14th at the helm of Lobo Soccer. His UNM record of 179-60-29 makes him the program’s all-time winningest coach. Furthermore, Fishbein has cemented himself among the best in the nation. His 153 wins since 2004 are third in the nation among all active NCAA Division I head coaches.
NCAA Active Win Leaders Since 2004
1st – Sasho Cirovski (Maryland) – 183 wins
2nd – Elmar Bolowich (Creighton) – 155 wins
3rd – Jeremy Fishbein (New Mexico) – 153 wins
T-4th – Jay Vicovich (Wake Forest) – 152 wins
T-4th – Tom Vom Steeg (UC Santa Barbara) – 152 wins
6th – Ray Reid (UConn) – 150 wins
7th – George Gelnovatch (Virginia) – 148 wins
8th – Ken Lolla (Louisville) – 141 wins
LOBO SOCCER: A MILE HIGH AND LOUDER THAN … The UNM Soccer Complex is building a reputation as one of the nation’s toughest venues to play in. In addition to being “a mile high and louder than…”, New Mexico has turned Albuquerque into one of the hottest tickets in college soccer. The Lobos have ranked in the top 15 in attendance nationally every season since the NCAA began keeping those statistics in 2001. It was first in attendance nationally in 2005 and has ranked in the top ten in every season since 2009.
MORE THAN AN INTERNATIONAL FLAVOR … While the diversity of the team roster is obvious, many Lobos have some serious international credentials. Two have represented their country in top-level international competition: Adrian Mora Delgado (Costa Rica U-17), Patrick Khouri (USA U-14, U-15 and Jamaica U-23). Most recently, Niko Hansen was invited to USA’s U-23 training camp in preparation for the 2016 Summer Olympics.
TOP LIEUTENANTS … When asked about his program’s success on and off the pitch, head coach Jeremy Fishbein is always quick to direct praise to his staff. The Lobos’ staff has combined to spend over a decade on the UNM bench. The praise of the staff has also come in the form of national awards. Assistant coachPaul Souders was named the NSCAA Far West Region Assistant Coach of the Year in 2011 and 2012.
EXCELLING OFF THE PITCH … Lobo Soccer has a rich tradition of academic success. During the Fishbein era (2002 to present), UNM has had 19 Academic All-Americans, 89 Academic All-Conference honorees and 12 NSCAA Scholar All-Americans. The team led all men’s soccer programs in Conference USA in 2014 with a program-record collective GPA of 3.370.
PRESEASON HONORS … The Lobos were picked to finish second in Conference USA as voted on by the league’s coaches. UNM received one first-place vote and finished behind Charlotte. Chris Wehan and Niko Hansen were both voted onto the Presason All-Conference Team. Wehan was also named to the MAC Hermann Trophy preseason watch list.