Men's Soccer hosts Loyola Marymount
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| NEW MEXICO LOBOS 3-7-0 (1-2-0 C-USA) |
LOYOLA MARYMOUNT LIONS 2-7-0 (0-0-0 WCC) |
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Tuesday, October 2, 2018 |
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ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – The University of New Mexico men’s soccer team is prepared for its final non-conference match of the season as they are set to host Loyola Marymount on Tuesday night at the UNM Soccer Complex. The Lobos are currently 2-5 in non-conference matches this season and will be looking to establish some confidence and momentum for the stretch run of Conference USA play. The Lobos opponent on Tuesday is a familiar one to the program as UNM has played Loyola Marymount nine times with the Lobos sporting a 7-1-1 series record against the Lions.
This year, the Lions are 2-7-0 and have yet to play a conference match in the West Coast Conference. Thus far, the Lions do not have an overpowering offense as they have scored just eight goals in nine matches played. Conversely, they are giving up just over 2.0 goals per game as they have surrendered 19.
vs. Loyola Marymount
Series Record: 7-1-1
In Overtime: 0-0-1
When LMU is Ranked: 1-0-0
Last Meeting: The last time UNM and Loyola Marymount played was back in 2016. The Lobos were victorious in that match, shutting out the Lions 3-0 in Albuquerque.
Conference Play Straight Ahead
After falling short in the conference opener (L 1-2) to RV Old Dominion, the Lobos regained momentum, defeating Florid Atlantic (W 2-0). This game was the first Lobo shutout of the season, with four shots on goal saved by freshman goalie, Alex Fetterly. The Lobos fell short in conference play against Florida International (L 2-4), but look ahead as the team faces only one more non-conference opponent for the rest of the season. Lobos will face Loyola Marymount Tuesday, October 2 at the UNM Soccer Complex.
The First of Many for the Lobos
The Lobos proved that they have more than just a few go-to players, but rather a whole team of talent which provides for an offense that is hard for opponents to track. The Lobos, with their first shutout of the season against Florida Atlantic, had two new scorers to add to the stat book. Senior Simon Spangenberg and RS Sophomore Billy Jones both posted their first goals for the 2018 season against FAU. This was also Jones’ first goal for the Lobos.
Shutouts are a Lobo specialty
Since 2015, the Lobos have forced 16 shutouts, adding one to the record this season already. In conference play, UAB (2-6-2, 0-3-1) knows this feeling all too well, as they have been scoreless against the
Lobos in two of their past three meetings. The Lobos are set to meet with the Blazers on October 6 in Birmingham.
Schedule Full of Ranked Teams
Four of UNM’s first five matchups of the season have been against ranked squads at the time of the game including No. 22 Seattle, No. 24 Washington, No. 30 Cal State Fullerton and No. 23 Tulsa. Half of those ranked matchups came at home with the Lobos hosting Seattle and Washington in consecutive games. UNM went 1-1 against those opponents and is also 1-1 against ranked teams on the road.
In their victories against Seattle and Cal State Fullerton, the Lobos scored a combined nine goals with five coming against Cal State Fullerton. CSUN was also ranked at one point this season, making the first five squads the Lobos have taken on, be top-30 teams in 2018. Old Dominion was receiving votes in the national poll at the time of the game against the Lobos and now the Monarchs are currently ranked.
Saint Mary’s, UNM’s opponent on September 26 was ranked No. 10 at the time making them the sixth opponent the Lobos have played be ranked at the time of the game.
Offense on Fire
In the first 10 games, the Lobos have racked up 49 points on 16 goals with 17 assists, placing the team in first place for goals in the C-USA. Individually, Tom Smart is first in the C-USA in assists, racking up six thus far. Matt Puig is also in the top-10 list in the C-USA for assists, ranking sixth with three assists.
Scores Galore!
Last season, the Lobos scored 25 goals all season. With 16 goals in 10 games, UNM already over the halfway mark to matching last year’s goal total. Only four players scored three goals or more in 2017, but this 2018 squad features two players with at least three goals and another two that are a goal shy of the mark. Freshman Omar Grey currently leads the team with five goals, followed by sophomore Matt Puig with four. Senior Simon Spangenberg had three and Senior Antoine Vial, Sophomore Nick Taylor, and RS-Sophomore Billy Jones have registered the remainder of the goals with two apiece.
Freshman Phenom
Freshman midfielder Omar Grey has gotten his collegiate career off to a resounding start. The Seattle, Wash. native has not started a game yet for UNM, but has played in all eight games thus far. Despite not being a starter, Grey has come off the bench and sparked the Lobos’ offense as he currently leads the team with five goals. Four of those came in consecutive games (9/2 – 9/15).
Two Protecting One
Redshirt-junior Ford Parker and true freshman Alex Fetterly have both seen time in goal for the Lobos this season with Parker getting the lion’s share of the work thus far. Parker has started seven games and registered 33 saves for a .702 save percentage in 642:17 minutes. Fetterly has started the three games and logged the lone shutout for the team this season, blanking FAU. On the season, Fetterly has saved 84% of shots on goal he has faced.