ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — The University of New Mexico men’s soccer team opened its 2016 season with a 3-0 shutout victory in an exhibition contest over the UNLV Rebels on Monday evening at home at the UNM Soccer Complex. Senior Niko Hansen notched two of the Lobos’ goals on the day en route to the victory.
“It’s a good way to start the season,” head coach Jeremy Fishbein said. “I thought we were really good the first half, a lot of energy, pretty good lineup…I’m really happy with the first outing.”
The Lobos kicked off the scoring in the 11th minute when Hansen accepted a throughball from junior Luke Lawrence and dribbled past UNLV’s last defender on the left. The senior fired from just inside the box into the right side of the net for the first goal of the game and a 1-0 edge.
UNM increased the lead to two in the 19th minute when Hansen once again found the back of the net. Hansen bolted up the left side and took a cross from the right. He maneuvered right and quickly blasted a shot into the right side of the net for his second tally of the night.
“I think this is really going to be a good team this year,” Hansen said. “We got two goals early on, it’s a team game for sure, I mean I finished [with] two but it was overall from everyone moving around, getting me open to get the shots in.”
When asked about what helped the team to the shutout victory, Hansen said, “The chemistry is a big part, the unity of the team, and I think that’s what really brought more of that fire and opportunities for us tonight.”
New Mexico went up 3-0 just before the half. Junior Sam Gleadle notched his first goal of the season with just eight seconds left on the clock, swiftly stealing the ball from UNLV’s keeper near the top of the box before firing into an open net for the hefty advantage.
The Lobos accumulated a commanding edge in shots in the first half. UNM struck 13 times, posting eight shots on goal, compared to just three shots for the Rebels while junior keeper Jason Beaulieu remained untouched in net.
UNLV opened the second half with its first shot on goal of the night when Memo Diaz sent the ball straight to Beaulieu in the center of the net in the 50th minute, but the Rebels failed to score in regulation for the 3-0 final.
The Lobos ultimately claimed the 3-0 victory after 90 minutes of regulation before scoring once more in the first of two additional 15-minute exhibition periods off the foot of Gleadle, his second of the night.
Overall, New Mexico tallied 19 shots in regulation, eight on goal, while UNLV posted eight shots, two on goal. The Lobos also notched eight corner kicks to just two for the Rebels.
UNM will return to action on Thursday, August 18 when the Lobos host Fort Lewis in their second of three exhibition games to kick off the season. The squads will face off at 10 a.m. MT.