Lobo Soccer- at Veterans Memorial Soccer Complex (1,006)
When: Friday at 5 p.m. (MT)
Who: Marshall Thundering Herd
GoLobos.com: Live stats, box score, live stream, postgame recap
Live stats: Available here
Video: Live (pay) stream available here
Weather Forecast: 68 degrees and clear
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – The end of the regular season is fast approaching for the University of New Mexico men’s soccer team. The Lobos have just four matches remaining and need results to continue its season. Only the top seven teams from Conference USA make the C-USA Tournament in early November, and five of those spots have already been filled. The Lobos are battling with UAB, which UNM defeated 3-2 on Sunday, FAU, which just recorded its first win of the season last week, and Marshall, the only winless team in conference play and UNM’s opponent Friday night in Huntington, W. Va.
The Lobos need to take care of business against a team that has lost seven straight games and doesn’t have a win since Sept. 11.
“I like where we are,” UNM head coach Jeremy Fishbein said. “I’m excited for our game Friday. We have to take it one game at a time and finish the regular season strong.
“We need to be good down the stretch and make the NCAA Tournament. That’s our goal this year and every year at a minimum. It’s not going to be handed to us. We have to be good.”
A strong defensive performance would go a long way to helping the Lobos get a win Friday night. After allowing multiple goals just once in their first seven games, the Lobos have conceded two goals three times in their past six games. Marshall’s offense has definitely struggled to put the ball in the net, having been shut out five times this year, but they’re a more dangerous team when playing at home.
“They’re really tough at home,” said Fishbein. “It’s a little different environment. It’s a turf field. It’s a long trip. So we need to be really disciplined in how we play and probably a little more cautious defensively. … I’m excited for it. I’m excited to see what we’re about these next four games. There’s a lot to look forward to.”
Series Record: 2-1-0
Home: 0-1-0; Road: 1-0-0; Neutral: 1-0-0
Last meeting: UNM lost at home to Marshall 2-1 last season.
Up Next: The Lobos host Charlotte on Tuesday, Oct. 27 at 7 p.m. at the UNM Soccer Complex in a key C-USA game.
SCOUTING MARSHALL … The Thundering Herd have struggled to score this season, averaging less than a goal per game. They have scored multiple goals in just two games, and they haven’t done so since Sept. 11. Rimario Gordon and Chris Taibi have eached tallied three goals to make up 60 percent of Marshall’s offense this season. Dominik Reining has been starting in goal lately for Marshall and has a GAA of 0.87 and a .852 save percentage in four starts.
RPI UPDATE … The Lobos checked in at No. 25 in the latest NCAA RPI update, while Marshall is 133rd in the rankings.
CASUCCI È MOLTO BENE … Freshman Francesco Casucci led UNM’s 3-2 comeback win over UAB on Oct. 18 with two goals and an assist. His efforts earned him C-USA Offensive Player of the Week honors and a spot on College Soccer News’ Team of the Week.
GLEADLE ON THE BOARD … After coming frustratingly close on numerous occasions, including having one taken off for being called offside, sophomore forward Sam Gleadle nabbed his first career goal against UAB on Oct. 18. It also happened to be the game-winner as the Lobos rallied from 2-0 down to win 3-2.
HERRERA CALLED UP TO U.S. U20 … Freshman defender Aaron Herrera was called up to the U.S. U20 team for the Four Nations Tournament in Germany and missed UNM’s loss at Old Dominion on Oct. 10.
WEHAN CLIMBS TOP 10 … Chris Wehan’s scored the 22nd goal of his career on Oct. 14 against Valparaiso. That moved him into an eighth-place tie in UNM history with James Rogers and Lance Watson. Mario Picazo is in seventh with 23.
NSCAA TEAM ACADEMIC AWARD … The Lobos earned the NSCAA Team Academic Award on Sept. 23, the fourth straight year they’ve accomplished that. It’s the 12th time under Coach Fishbein the Lobos have earned the award. Their 3.44 team GPA was the fourth highest among all Division I men’s soccer programs.