Lobos Extend Win Streak to Four with Shutout over UAB
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — The University of New Mexico men’s soccer team stretched its win streak to four on Saturday night at the UNM Soccer Complex, claiming a 2-0 shutout over visiting Conference USA foe UAB. The match also extends UNM’s unbeaten streak to five.
With the victory, the Lobos improve to 8-3-1 overall, 3-1-1 in C-USA play while UAB falls to 3-5-3, 0-4-1 C-USA. UNM stays in fourth in the C-USA standings with 10 points, just three points out of first behind FIU, Old Dominion and Kentucky.
“It was good result and it was good to get the shutout tonight,” head coach Jeremy Fishbein said. “I thought we were good early, but once again we didn’t find the net in the first half. We had faith in our bench, tried to share the minutes, and at the end of the day we got two nice goals and created a lot of chances. We’ll enjoy this one, but we have another big match on Wednesday vs. UCLA.”
An own goal early in the second half gave the Lobos a 1-0 edge before junior Antoine Vial netted an insurance goal in the 74th minute for the eventual 2-0 score.
UNM’s first goal in the 47th minute, officially listed as an “own goal” in the statistics due to the final tap coming off of a UAB defender, developed as a result of an outstanding, calculated play by the Lobos.
Sophomore Aaron Scott passed the ball to junior Aaron Herrera on the right side of the box. Herrera crossed it back to the left where senior Luke Lawrence was waiting to tap it in, but UAB got the hit on it first to give UNM a 1-0 advantage.
In the 74th, junior Simon Spangenberg sent a swift pass up field to Vial on a clear, connecting just past midfield. Vial bolted past the defense and went one-on-one with UAB keeper James Teal. Teal went for the slide tackle to stop Vial, but Vial went around and fired for the 2-0 lead.
Antoine Vial makes it 2-0 Lobos with this beauty! #GoLobos pic.twitter.com/L0JXhLQeRW
— Lobo Men’s Soccer (@UNMLoboMSoccer) October 15, 2017
The goal marks Vial’s fourth of the season, occurring in front of 1,224 fans, two of which happened to be his parents visiting from Vial’s native France.
The Lobos dominated the match from the beginning, outshooting the Blazers 12-4 in the first half while coming out on top 5-0 in corners in the first half. UNM posted three shots on goal in the first frame from Spangenberg, freshman Alex Vedamanikam and freshman Nick Taylor.
Overall, the Lobos outshot UAB 19-12, 8-5 in shots on goal. Redshirt-freshman Devin Boyce led with four shots followed by Spangenberg and Herrera who each posted three.
What a save by senior Jason Beaulieu! He has four on the night with time running out. Still 2-0 Lobos! #GoLobos pic.twitter.com/eVFlGEURnR
— Lobo Men’s Soccer (@UNMLoboMSoccer) October 15, 2017
Defensively, senior Jason Beaulieu registers his 20th career shutout, his second in the last three games. Beaulieu collected four saves on the night and improves to 8-3-1 on the season.
The Lobos will host the final match of their three-game home stand on Wednesday, Oct. 18 as they host formerly ranked UCLA in a tough non-conference matchup. UNM will host a pair of back-to-back home games beginning Oct. 25 vs Denver, capped by senior night on Oct. 28 vs. Charlotte at 6 p.m.
Post Game with Coach Fishbein: