(RV) New Mexico at Florida Atlantic
Saturday, Oct. 15 – 5 p.m. (MT)
Boca Raton, Fla. | FAU Soccer Stadium
GAME NOTES
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — The Lobos (7-4-0) are set to continue C-USA competition on Saturday as they travel to Boca Raton, Fla. to face the Florida Atlantic University Owls. New Mexico is entering the match coming off of a tough, 2-1 loss to currently-ranked #14 Charlotte.
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New Mexico is looking to improve its Conference USA record this week following the disappointing loss to Charlotte. UNM has the opportunity to even out its record in C-USA play as the Lobos enter the contest 1-2 in the league. FAU is also 1-2 in the conference but 3-6-1 overall.
Series Record vs. Florida Atlantic
3-0-0
When FAU Ranked:0-0-0 (Owls have never been ranked vs. Lobos)
Last Meeting: The Lobos faced the Owls in the last game of the regular season last year, running away with a 3-0 shutout victory heading into the Conference USA Tournament. The score was tied 0-0 heading into the second half before Nick Rochowski broke the game open in the 71st minute. He sparked the Lobo offense as UNM scored just over four minutes later (assisted by Niko Hansen) and again in the 85th minute (Hansen from Chris Wehan).
Conference USA Comparisons
The Lobos and the Owls have not had any common opponents this season but have a matching C-USA record of 1-2, tying the squads for sixth in the league. UNM has lost to the top-ranked team in the conference (Charlotte) and the fourth team (Kentucky) while the Owls fell to the undefeated South Carolina Gamecocks (2nd) and Marshall, both by scores of 1-0.
UNM earned a 4-1 C-USA victory over FIU while FAU’s win came over UAB on Oct. 1, 1-0 in double overtime.
Scouting Florida Atlantic
The Owls were set to face C-USA opponent Old Dominion on Friday, Oct. 7, but due to Hurricane Matthew, the match was postponed. Therefore, FAU has not played since Tuesday, Oct. 4 when the team fell to Jacksonville on the road by a score of 1-0. The contest was broadcast live on ESPN3 while FAU was outshot 14-9 and put up 15 fouls, including two yellow cards, to just six total fouls for Jacksonville. The Owls were slated to finish last in the Conference USA standings in the 2016 C-USA Preseason Poll, but they have only dropped two Conference USA matches, both by just one goal. This includes a close 1-0 loss at home to the South Carolina Gamecocks, who are currently second in the C-USA standings with an undefeated 2-0-1 C-USA record, 7-3-1 overall.
The Owls have scored just eight goals so far this season and are led by senior Jason Fitzgerald who has five points on two goals and one assist. Also notching two goals on the season for FAU is senior Elijah McDonald. Defensively, the Owls have had four goalies see action in net but the one that has spent the most time between the posts is senior Phillip Hitpass. Hitpass has accumulated 26 saves for a 0.788 save percentage and notched two shutouts on the season.
Last Time Out
The Lobos dropped their third game against ranked a opponent on Saturday, Oct. 8 at #17 Charlotte. Charlotte netted both of its goals on penalty kicks in the first half to put UNM behind 2-0 heading into the break. In the second half, the Lobo offense came out more energized and scored its first goal of the game in the 55th minute. Redshirt-freshman Devin Boyce registered his second assist of the season when he sent a throughball to senior Niko Hansen. Hansen took it all the way to the net for his ninth goal of the season en route to the 2-1 final.
Road Struggles
UNM is now 6-0 at home but has struggled on the road this season. The Lobos have played five games on the road (including a neutral-site match up) and have lost four of them. Four of those losses came vs currently ranked opponents including Notre Dame, Indiana, Kentucky and Charlotte.
Unlucky
Despite having the third-fewest yellow-card total in the conference (13), the Lobos have been making them count. UNM has made four penalties in the box that have resulted in goals – three of which have been gamewinners for the opponent.
Three-of-Seven
UNM has allowed just seven goals all season, but the tough Lobo defense has allowed only three in the run of play. The majority of the goals against the Lobos have come from penalty kicks (4).
Goal Firsts
Saturday’s game at #17 Charlotte was the first time that UNM has allowed more than one goal in a single game this season. In addition, the contest marked the first time this season that the Lobos scored but failed to emerge with the victory.
Lobo C-USA Leaders
Niko Hansen and Jason Beaulieu each hold top-two spots in the conference in several categories. Hanson ranks first in game-winning goals (4), total goals (9), total points (19), goals per game (0.82), points per game (1.73) and shots on goal per game (2.09) while Beaulieu is second in goals against average (0.545) and save percentage (0.854).
UNM in the Conference
The Lobos are currently in the top two in the conference in three categories including shots on goal per game (6.64, 1st), fouls per game (9.55, 2nd) and save percentage (0.841, 2nd).
Preseason Honors
The Lobos were picked to finish tied for fourth in Conference USA with South Carolina as voted on by the league’s coaches. In addition, seniors Chris Wehan and Niko Hansen were selected to the 2016 Preseason All-Conference USA Team. Wehan was also named to the MAC Hermann Trophy preseason watch list for the second straight season.
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 ranked in the top 10 from 2009-2014. In 2015, the Lobos continued the streak among the nation’s attendance leaders hosting 16,918 fans (1,691 per game average) for 15th overall in the country.
International Pride
While the diversity of the team roster is obvious, many Lobos have some serious international credentials. Five have represented their country in top-level international competition: Patrick Khouri (Jamaica U20 World Cup qualifier, US U15), Aaron Herrera (US U20 – currently preparing for U20 World Cup qualification); Matthew Constant (US U17 National team and Canada U20 National team); Billy Jones (captained New Zealand U17 in select World Cup quailfying matches); Rafa Jimenez (Australian U20 World Cup quaifying team).
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 – more than any other men’s soccer program in the country among all divisions. In addition, the Lobos have garnered 92 Academic All-Conference honorees and 12 NSCAA Scholar All-Americans under Fishbein’s tutelage. As a team, the Lobos have earned the NSCAA Academic Team Award in 12 of the last 13 seasons.