Lobos back to C-USA play; host FIU Saturday morning
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| NEW MEXICO LOBOS 3-6-0 (1-1-0 C-USA) |
FLORIDA INTERNATIONAL PANTHERS 3-5-0 (2-0-0 C-USA) |
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Saturday, September 29, 2018 |
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ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – After a heartbreaking result Wednesday night against No. 10-ranked Saint Mary’s in which the unbeaten Gaels scored the game-winning goal with 20 seconds left in regulation, the University of New Mexico men’s soccer team shifts their focus back to Conference-USA play as they are set to take on Florida International on Saturday, September 29 at 11 a.m. at the UNM Soccer Complex.
The Lobos will be looking to push above the .500 mark in league play with a win on Saturday, meanwhile the Panthers will be looking to remain unbeaten in C-USA play in the early going as they are 2-0-0.
Last season, the Panthers were the regular season champions in C-USA going 6-0-2. Poised with an dangerous offense, the Panthers have scored 13 goals this season, one shy of UNM’s total in one fewer game played.
In their most-recent game, the Panthers scored a season-high five goals against North Florida.
vs. Florida International
Series Record: 5-3-1
In Overtime: 1-0-1
Last Meeting: FIU claimed the most-recent game against UNM, beating the Lobos 4-0 in Miami back on October 21, 2017. The Panthers scored the first goal in the 22nd minute on a penalty kick and then added three goals in the second half to pull away.
Lobos Continue Three-Game Homestand
The next three games for the Lobos will be played within the friendly confines of the UNM Soccer Complex as the men’s soccer team will play home games against nationally-ranked Saint Mary’s this Wednesday, Florida International on Saturday, September 29 and then Loyola Marymount on Tuesday, October 2. Traditionally, the Lobos have been nearly unbeatable at home, but will be looking to improve upon their current 1-4 mark at home.
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.
UNM’s most-recent opponent Saint Mary’s was ranked No. 10, making them the sixth opponent the Lobos have played be ranked at the time of the game.
Offense on Fire – Leading C-USA
In the first nine games, the Lobos have racked up 42 points on 14 goals with 14 assists to lead C-USA in all three categories. Individually, Tom Smart is tied for the lead in the C-USA in assists, racking up five thus far. He has also registered an assist in three of his last four games.
Scores Galore!
Last season, the Lobos scored 25 goals all season. With 14 goals in eight games, UNM has surpassed the halfway point of that mark. 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 three. Senior Antoine Vial and sophomore Nick Taylor have registered two apiece. Billy Jones and Simon Spangenberg joined the goal scoring party with their first goals of the season against Flordia Atlantic.
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 nine 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 started the first six games and registered 25 saves for a .714 save percentage in 552:27 minutes. Fetterly has started the last 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.