Lobo Faithful:
Arduous trip south…not Las Cruces, New Mexico, South Carolina south! We opened Conference USA play Fridaynight at the “Graveyard” on the campus of the University of South Carolina. Tough trip! Coming off five consecutive wins, the team was in a great place entering Conference USA play. We still have two non-conference mid-week games, with the first this Wednesday night vs the University of San Francisco. There is no easy route to Columbia, South Carolina. We departed the Albuquerque Sunport at 8:00 am and arrived late afternoon. Couldn’t find a good connection, so we got to explore our country’s busiest airport, Atlanta International. Short training session indoors on the campus of USC, dinner, quick scouting report and off to bed. All good. We kept to our time zone and had breakfast at 10:30 am Friday, finished the scout and went for a quick kick-a-round at a nearby field. A few hours of down time, pre-game at 3:30 and off to the “Graveyard” at 5:00. The stadium is nicknamed the “Graveyard”, because it sits right next to a small cemetery in the middle of campus. After two days of rain, the skies cleared and conditions were excellent for our match. The pre-game was timed to the minute to accommodate the televised broadcast. We opened well, but two and a half minutes in, our left sided flank players thought the ball went out of bounds, failed to react and the USC winger glided past both and served a near post ball…0-1 less than three minutes in. Not the way to start. To the team’s credit, we adjusted, got control of the match and played extremely well for the next 82 minutes. We couldn’t find the net and USC dropped their back line and played for the counter. Attack after attack and finally in the 85th minute, Wehan found an opening and was taken down in the box. Chris slotted the PK to even the score and we confidently entered overtime. We had the better of play in the first OT….the first eight minutes. A harmless shot from outside our goal and GK Beaulieu routinely came off his line to scoop up the shot….not sure if Jason took his eye off the ball, funny bounce…but a once in a lifetime mistake came at the wrong time. The ball trickled into our net and the Gamecocks celebrated. Tough way to lose a game, but we created our own problems. We need to open matches like we have been finishing them. A valuable, but painful lesson as mid-season approaches. We will learn, rebound and be better as a result. You need to focus for 90 minutes…take a second off and bad things can happen!
Lobos vs South Carolina: http://www.golobos.com/news/2015/9/25/MSOC_0925155952.aspx
Big game vs non-conference foe, University of San Francisco, this Wednesday night at 7:00 pm. We need everyone in the stands bringing energy to the boys!
LOBOS VS UNIVERSITY OF SAN FRANCISCO DONS: WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 30TH, 7:00 PM, LOBO SOCCER COMPLEX
For the fourth consecutive year and the 12th time in the past 13 years, Lobo Men’s Soccer has received the prestigious NSCAA Team Academic Award. Our team gpa for 2014-2015 was 3.44 and a great deal of the credit goes to Associate Head Coach Paul Souders. The players are great students and take tremendous pride in their studies. Paul provides the structure and keeps everyone on track…..he even writes a few papers, takes some on-line tests….sits in on classes in disguise.…bakes cookies for teachers….takes the GMAT, LSAT….Lobo Men’s Soccer Receives NSCAA Team Academic Award: http://www.golobos.com/news/2015/9/23/MSOC_0923154216.aspx
We pulled off filming “Fish Off The Pitch” Monday afternoon with dignified guest Sam Gleadle (the English Gentleman).They killed me with the outtakes at the end of the segment…see the last 30 seconds on the timer: https://golobos.com/news/2015/9/28/MSOC_0928155715.aspx
If you haven’t joined the Lobo Men’s Soccer Booster Club, The Golden Goal Club, now’s the time. We need your support. 100% of membership dollars go directly to our program. Golden Goal Club Brochure: http://sidearm.sites.s3.amazonaws.com/unm.sidearmsports.com/documents/2015/7/28/2015_GGC_Brochure_Final.pdf
We look forward to seeing everyone Wednesday night. Your support energizes our team…..GO LOBOS!
FISH