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Lobos in the Pros: Summer Edition Update 2

Ben McKendryBen McKendry

Albuquerque, N.M. — As a follow up to our first Lobos in the Pros Update, here is another special edition summer update including some more outstanding former Lobos! Read below and enjoy!

Ben McKendry (2012, 2013, 2014)
Currently plays for TPS (Turun Palloseura) of Finland and has made 11 appearances with the club totaling 864 minutes. During his time at UNM he was named First Team All-Conference USA and a Second Team All-American by College Sports Madness. During his senior season he appeared in 17 matches including 16 starts. That year he scored two goals and recorded two assists on the season and played 1,358 minutes in the midfield. The first goal he scored was a PK just 16 seconds in, which was the fastest goal in UNM history, against West Virginia on Oct. 1.
 

Michael Kafari (2010, 2011, 2012, 2013)
Michael Kafari currently plays for Motala AIF of the Swedish Division 2 league. On June 21, Kafari scored a goal in the Svenska Cupen, recognized as the top domestic cup in Sweden. He put his squad up 2-1, after which they tied 2-2 and eventually won 5-3 to advance to the second round. Winner of the Svenska Cupen qualifies for the first qualification round of the UAFA Europa League. Prior to his time with Motala AIF, Kafari competed for Puerto Rico FC of the NASL (National American Soccer League) where he played a total of 1,080 minutes in 17 games, including 12 starts. 

At UNM, Kafari was a member of the Lobo squad that earned an appearance in the NCAA Final Four. He started all 21 games in which he played on the season, accumulating 1,830 minutes on the pitch. In his career, he competed in 82 matches, starting in 62 for a total of 4,926 minutes played.
 

Alex Vedamanikam (2017)
After enjoying his freshman season with the Lobos in 2017, Alex Vedamanikam signed a professional contract to play for Eintracht Braunschweig of the Second Bundesliga early this year. With the squad, he has so far made seven appearances playing a total of 466 minutes. As a Lobo, Vedamanikam made 16 appearances, starting in seven, for a total of 523 minutes as a freshman. he also tallied four points on one goal and two assists.
 

Blake Smith (2009, 2010, 2011, 2012)
Drafted eighth overall by the Montreal Impact in the 2013 MLS SuperDraft, which was the highest ever at UNM. Smith joined FC Cincinnati after spending the past two seasons with Miami FC of the NASL  Since arriving in Cincinnati, Smith has seen action in 13 matches including an appearance in the US Open Cup. In his two seasons with the club, Smith has appeared in 56 regular-season contests and three US Open Cup games for a total of 59 games. FC Cincinnati is slated to join the MLS in 2019 as the league’s latest expansion team.
 

Kyle Venter (2009 (RS), 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013)
Kyle Venter graduated from UNM as one of the most decorated players in Lobo history. he is currently playing for Penn FC Fusion, part of the USL (United Soccer League). So far in the 2018 season, Venter has competed in seven matches, starting six, totaling 554 minutes. He has an outstanding 83.3 percent tackle success rate, a 78.8 percent passing success rate. He has also scored one (amazing) goal this season against the Tampa Bay Rowdies where the former Lobo Lance Rozeboom plays. As a Lobo, Venter registered 7,899 minutes on the pitch starting 85 of his 86 games in his career. He holds the UNM record for most starts and most minutes in a career.
 

Lance Rozeboom (2008, 2009, 2010, 2011)
Lance Rozeboom was selected as the seventh pick of the second round in the 2012 MLS Supplemental Draft by DC United following his outstanding career as a Lobo. He currently competes for the Tampa Bay Rowdies for which he debuted on February 25, 2018. So far for the Rowdies, Rozeboom has made 12 appearances for a total of 778 minutes. Rozeboom notched his first goal with Tampa Bay against the Pittsburgh Riverhounds on May 19.

As a Lobo, Rozeboom was named to Top Drawer Soccer’s Top 100 list (No. 37). He finished his career competing in 82 games, starting 67, for a total of 6,295 minutes on the pitch.
 

Michael Reed (2007, 2008, 2009, 2010)
Michael Reed currently serves as team captain for Nashville SC of the USL and has competed in 12 regular-season contests to go along with two US Open Cup games for a total of 14 games so far this season. Nashville SC was announced as a new expansion team for the MLS in December, the squad is expected to become an official MLS team in 2020.

While at UNM, Reed saw action in 76 games, starting in 59, totaling 5,158 minutes on the pitch. He currently ranks third in UNM history for most minutes played in a season with 2,135 in 2009.
 

Reed also plays on Nashville SC with former Lobo teammate Justin Davis. The pair were on the Lobo squad together in 2007, 2008 and 2009. Check out the two of them together here!:
 

Justin Davis (2006, 2007, 2008, 2009)
Justin Davis has competed in 11 regular-season matches for Nashville SC and two US Open Cup games for a total of 13 contests so far this season. He has started all 13 games for a total of 900 minutes on the pitch. As a Lobo, he saw action in 77 games, including 58 starts, for a total of 5,452 minutes. He also posted 174 shots and accumulated 58 points on 20 goals and 18 assists.