Men's Soccer Falls Short to UCSB, 2-1

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — The University of New Mexico men’s soccer team jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the first half, but ultimately allowed a pair of second-half goals to fall just short against UC Santa Barbara on Tuesday night at the UNM Soccer Complex.

Freshman Omar Grey notched his fourth goal of the season, his second in as many games, to tie for 10th in UNM history in goals by a freshmen. 

With the loss, the Lobos slip to 2-4-0 on the season while UCSB improves to 4-2-0. 

“It wasn’t good enough today, this was a game we needed to handle and we had two bad mistakes in the first seven minutes of the second half,” head coach Jeremy Fishbein said. “They were a very talented team, we knew coming in that this was a game where we had to be disciplined and couldn’t give openings. 

“There are no excuses, I’m really disappointed. We’ll move on and get ready for the next game on Saturday.”

Tuesday’s match started out a battle of the defenses as neither team tallied more than one shot on goal throughout the first 38 minutes – that is until Grey found the back of the net  to put UNM up 1-0 at the 38:04 mark. Grey’s goal was assisted by redshirt-junior Tom Smart, his fourth assist of the season. (Check out the goal below!)
 

GOAL by Omar Gray in the 39th minute! This was his fourth goal of the season. #GoLobos pic.twitter.com/30sF0uP6Zk

— Lobo Men’s Soccer (@UNMLoboMSoccer) September 12, 2018

The Lobos went into the locker room with the one-goal advantage along with 6-4 edge in shots and a 2-0 lead in corner kicks.

The tables turned in the second half – fast, as UCSB scored the equalizer just 2:40 into the second half, followed swiftly by the go-ahead goal for the Gauchos at the 52:12 mark. The Lobos were unable to recover for the 2-1 final.

Overall, UCSB outshot UNM 12-11 including an 8-5 margin in the second half while the Lobos posted three corner kicks to just two for the Gauchos. UCSB edged UNM in shots on goal by just one, 4-3.

Redshirt-junior Ford Parker spent all 90 minutes in goal for UNM, posting a pair of saves.

The Lobos return to action on Saturday, Sept. 15 as they host their Conference USA opener against Old Dominion at the UNM Soccer Complex at 7 p.m.