Lobo men battle to tie against fiesty Bearcats

by Derek Davis

Daily Lobo

The UNM men's soccer team played to a 2-2 draw against the University of Cincinnati Sunday afternoon to conclude the TLC Plumbing and Utility Invitational at the UNM Soccer Complex.

The game took almost four hours to complete due to a mix of lightning delays and an overtime session.

The first of two lightning delays came just four minutes into the match. Once play resumed, the Lobos and Bearcats struggled to capitalize on first-goal scoring opportunities.

The Lobos' best scoring prospect of the first half was delivered from the head of sophomore Brandon Moss in the 32nd minute, but Cincinnati goalkeeper John Adams narrowly deflected the attempt.

In the second half, Lobo midfielder Ricky Francis crushed a thunderous shot past Cincinnati's Adams, for the first goal of the game.

"The pass came from the center and I just hit it," Francis said. "I didn't have time to think."

Two minutes later Justin Lewis scored the equalizer for Cincinnati in the 63rd minute. UNM goalkeeper Andrew Weber was able to get a hand on the shot, but could not prevent the goal.

With 17 minutes left in the match, play was suspended for the second time. Head UNM head coach Jeremy Fishbein said the rain did not affect the outcome of the match "It would have been nice to play straight through, though," he said.

Once the hour and 15 minute delay was over, the Lobos scored almost immediately.

In the 76th minute, Lance Watson caught a pass right at his feet, took one dribble and sent a fire bolt past Adams for the second goal, and the Lobo's second lead.

"We did a lot of good things today, created a lot of opportunities," Watson said.

However, the Lobos relinquished the lead again with four minutes left in the game.

Anders Cedergren sent a shot past Weber's outstretched hands to tie the game and send it to overtime.

In overtime, Moss received a red card while on a breakaway. Moss said the penalty was not intentional.

"I was surprised by the red card," he said. "There was no deliberate foul."

The Lobo's were forced to play the rest of the game a man down. UNM did have its chances in overtime, but missed several opportunities.

"We had good chances in overtime," Fishbein said.

The tie was an improvement from Friday night.

"We played really well today," Watson said. "It was a big turn around from Friday."

The Lobos barely survived Friday's game against Indiana University Purdue University of Indiana, but Watson pulled UNM through converting a penalty kick into the game-winning goal for the Lobos.

The UNM soccer team will focus its sights on Texas Christian University and nationally ranked Southern Methodist University on the road this weekend. The Lobos will return to the confines of the UNM Soccer Complex on Sept. 16 when they will play against UC-Irvine.