Back-to-Back Triple-Goal Games, Lobos Win 3-1
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — The University of New Mexico men’s soccer team scored three goals for the second-straight match on Saturday night, pulling off a 3-1 victory over the visiting Florida Atlantic Owls. In head coach Jeremy Fishbein’s tenure, the Lobos are 78-1-0 when scoring three goals.
A trio of Lobos scored on the night including sophomore Matt Constant, netting a career first, junior Aaron Herrera on a penalty kick and redshirt-sophomore Devin Boyce on a buzzer-beater in the final minute. UNM improves to 7-3-1, 2-1-1 C-USA) while FAU falls to 1-8-0, 1-4-0 in conference play.
“I thought we were tremendous in the first half and to be ahead 1-0 probably wasn’t an indication of how well we played and the chances we created,” Fishbein said. “In the second half, I think the travel and the recent games kind of got to us, we didn’t come out with the same intensity or quality and to FAU’s credit, they were really good.
“To the guys’ credit, I think we got the game back, we started creating chances again and I’m happy with the win. I think the biggest thing is coming off three road games in eight days. We finished it off, I’m really proud of the guys and their ability to handle challenging situations.”
The Lobos kicked off the match dominating FAU’s side of the field. They got their first chance of the match in the first five minutes after redshirt-sophomore Tom Smart bolted up the left sideline, and found Boyce in the middle for the shot. Boyce’s effort was saved by FAU keeper Luis Aranzazu to keep UNM scoreless. Over the next nine minutes, Herrera sent two in, including a half-bicycle kick, but both were saved by Owl defenders.
Just nine nine seconds after Herrera’s shot, sophomore Aaron Scott nailed the far post from the box. The barrage of shots fired up the excited Saturday night Lobo crowd of over 1,200.
Constant headed in the first Lobo goal in the 36th minute off a Boyce corner kick for his first career goal. The assist marks Boyce’s fifth of the season to tie Herrera for the team lead.
Matt Constant nets his first goal of the season off of a free kick from Devin Boyce! #GoLobos pic.twitter.com/9j3NnmCfcK
— Lobo Men’s Soccer (@UNMLoboMSoccer) October 8, 2017
At the half the Lobos led 7-3 in shots including 5-1 shot on goal advantage. In addition, UNM dominated in corner kick opportunities 5-1.
In the second half, FAU found its momentum, netting the equalizer in the 58th minute. Owl leading scorer sophomore Carlos Sanchis netted his fifth goal of the season from just outside the box toward the right wing.
The Lobos retaliated with a pair of goals to close out the match. The first came in the 86th minute when Herrera lined up for a penalty kick to once again claim the Lobo lead with less than four minutes to play.
Aaaaand there’s that Herrera back flip! #FlipsOnFlips #GoLobos pic.twitter.com/hGHEdrCbfB
— Lobo Men’s Soccer (@UNMLoboMSoccer) October 8, 2017
In the final minute, Boyce found the back of the net with the insurance goal to make it a two-goal advantage, 3-1.
Boyce with the insurance goal with under a minute left! #GoLobos pic.twitter.com/HBFxp0mOnB
— Lobo Men’s Soccer (@UNMLoboMSoccer) October 8, 2017
Overall, the Lobos outshot FAU 12-5, 7-2 on goal, and posted six corner kicks to FAU’s five. Four of the Owls’ kicks came in the second half. Herrera registered three of UNM’s shots on goal and Boyce followed with two.
Beulieu earns his seventh win of the season with the victory, improving to 7-3-1 overall, Aranzazu is 1-3-0.
The Lobos will play two more at home before hitting the road again. UNM will take on UAB on Saturday, Oct. 14 at 7 p.m. followed by UCLA on Wednesday, October 14.
Post-game from Coach Fishbein: