Lobos Fall 1-0 at Seattle to Wrap Up Opening Weekend
SEATTLE, WASH. — The University of New Mexico men’s soccer team closed out its opening weekend on the road with a 1-0 loss at Seattle University on Sunday night. With the loss, UNM slips to 0-2-0 on the season for the second straight season. The Lobos went on a four-win streak after opening 2016 0-2.
Despite the tough opening weekend, UNM looks for its first victory of the season when it hosts UNLV on Friday, Sept. 1 at 7 p.m. at the UNM Soccer Complex. The Lobos have not lost on their home turf since Oct. 27, 2015. Similarly, Seattle’s (2-0-0) victory marks the Redhawk’s 18th-straight home victory which is currently the longest home win streak in the country.
“We didn’t show up today,” head coach Jeremy Fishbein said. “We got Seattle’s best game and we didn’t give ourselves the opportunity to play our game. We played into their hands, didn’t match their intensity and didn’t match the physical level required for the game.
“Unfortunately we were in the same situation last year (0-2-0), it’s hard to play top teams on the road. They have the longest home win streak in the country and they got the better of us today.”
Sunday’s game started out in favor of the home team as the Redhawks led 5-1 in shots in the first 15 minutes of play. The squads continued to battle throughout the first half and, despite Seattle taking seven shots to UNM’s one, the Lobo defense held off Seattle to keep it 0-0 at the half.
In the second half, the UNM offense picked up momentum, tallying five shots, but it wasn’t enough as the Redhawks continued to control the game. Seattle posted 13 shots in the period including the eventual game-winning goal in the 73rd minute.
WAC Preseason Defensive Player of the Year Nathan Aune was the scorer for the Redhawks. The junior found the back of the net with a header from the near post off of a corner kick to put Seattle on top 1-0 with just 16 minutes left to play.
The Lobos had a solid chance when freshman Alex Vedamanikam blasted a shot from the close right side of the box, but the ball ricocheted off the crossbar.
Five Lobos registered shots on the day including senior Sam Gleadle (two), sophomore Aaron Scott, senior Luke Lawrence redshirt-junior Wedner Delmonte and Vedamanikam.
Overall the Lobos were outshot 20-6, 11-2 on goal. Senior keeper Jason Beaulieu registered a career-high 10 saves, tying for eighth in Lobo history for saves in a single game.
“This game is enlightening for us and is a great challenge because we have a wonderful group of players,” Fishbein said. “It is a challenge for all of us to handle this properly. The exciting thing is that we get to come back and play at home. I’m excited about this group and to see what we’re about as the season progresses.”
UNM returns home on Friday, Sept. 1 as the Lobos host UNLV at 7 p.m. at the UNM Soccer Complex.