The UNM men's soccer team ended its home schedule in disappointing fashion because of a second half collapse, losing 4-1 to the University of Nevada at Las Vegas Sunday at the UNM Soccer Complex.
The Lobos (3-11-2, 0-6-1 in the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation) allowed three goals in the first 18 minutes of the second half going winless in conference play. The Lobos dominated the first half of play, but could not capitalize on several scoring chances. It would come back to haunt the Lobos in the second half as the Rebels scored early and often.
"Its been like that all year," senior forward Ty Hibbert said. "We've been dominating teams, we just haven't put away the goals that we needed to put away to break teams' backs. It's frustrating for us as a team."
With no score at halftime, UNM did not start the second half strong, giving the Rebels (8-6-1, 3-2-1) too much space. UNLV capitalized by scoring a goal five minutes into the half. Rebel forward Tyler Turchi sent a low cross from the right corner to wide-open teammate Jason Melendez in the middle of the 18-yard box. Melendez sent a shot into the left corner, but Lobo goalie Andrew Weber deflected the shot. However, forward Tuomas Talvio was there to put in the rebound for a 1-0 lead.
With UNM still stunned from the goal, UNLV would score its second goal just two minutes later. Talvio got behind the Lobo defense on the left sideline and dribbled into the box on the break. He drew Weber out of the goal and sent a low cross to the middle to forward Kelly Frederick, who tapped in the ball for a 2-0 lead.
As UNM tried to regain its composure, the Rebels scored again in the 63rd minute when Frederick found Melendez streaking through the box with a nice pass and Melendez easily put the ball past Weber into the net.
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"We lost control in the midfield and they were able to pull us out from the flanks," head coach Klaus Weber said. "Our defense lost shape; they fell behind us too easy."
Hibbert tried to rally his team, scoring his team-leading sixth goal of the year in the 67th minute. He received a pass in the box from junior midfielder Marc Laws, took a dribble and ripped a shot that ricocheted off a Rebel defender and into the goal.
The goal seemed to settle the Lobos down as they started to create more scoring chances during the next 10 minutes. However, with UNM pushing more players on offense, the Rebels' Ryan Cochrane scored the final goal when he lobbed a shot over Weber just outside the 18-yard box.
The difference in the game was that the Rebels were able to score on their opportunities and the Lobos squandered most of theirs. UNM outshot the Rebels 22-11, including 10-to-3 in the first half.
The Lobos dominated UNLV to start the game, passing the ball around and creating scoring chances. UNM spent most of the first half on the Rebels side of the field and it looked like the Lobos scored a goal early. Sophomore midfielder Micah Newman sent a free kick from 35 yards out to the left far post where he found Hibbert. Hibbert headed the ball into the net, but was called for a pushing foul and the goal was waived off.
UNM had numerous other opportunities to score, but kept shooting the ball over the goal.
"We were just knocking it around really well, we were penetrating and stuff, but we just couldn't get enough scoring opportunities to open up the game for us," Hibbert said.
The Lobos will play in the conference tournament next weekend at Fresno State University and are seeded eighth.
"I still think we can beat every team in our conference," Hibbert said. "It's just a matter of playing for 90 minutes and not having any memory lapses; playing hard on defense. We just got to score the opportunities we have. If we do that I think we can come out on top."
