The UNM men's soccer team, ranked No. 5 in two national polls, shrugged off a sluggish start Sunday to beat the University of Nevada-Las Vegas Rebels, 3-0.
After a scoreless first half, the Lobos netted three second-half goals to start the season for the second time in team history with eight consecutive wins.
A mistake on defense almost cost the Lobos their fifth straight shutout, when a crossed ball was allowed to squirt through a Lobo defender to the feet of a UNLV forward five yards from the goal. However, the Rebels failed to capitalize on the error when the ball was booted wide.
Head coach Jeremy Fishbein said the team was lucky to keep its shutout intact and escape the game with such a convincing win.
"We gave them two opportunities to score goals," he said. "But we were fortunate to escape the game with a shutout."
The Lobos' second-half success was due in large part to the performance of junior Lance Watson. The forward, who converted to left midfielder this season, torched the Rebels' defense with a goal and two assists.
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The first goal of the game came in the 57th minute when Watson snaked his way in between three or four defenders before finally backheeling a pass to senior forward Patrick Grange. Grange rolled the ball from his left foot to his right and freed himself enough to fire a shot past the outstretched hands of a flying UNLV goalkeeper.
Eight minutes later, the Lobos were awarded a free kick after a Rebel defender took Watson down from behind. Watson dusted himself off and then whipped in a bending pass that found the head of Jeff Rowland. The pass was all Rowland needed to lodge the ball in the side netting before the goalkeeper could react. The goal was Rowland's 10th of the season.
With 12 minutes remaining in the game, Watson found himself one-on-one with a defender on the left side of the field, something he said is part of the fun of playing his new position this season. After quickly stepping over the ball and leaving the defender facing the stands with a confused stare, Watson threaded the ball between two defenders.
The goalkeeper barely had a chance to move before the ball was nestled in the goal.
Watson said the Lobos' slow start was due to their miscues on passes, and because they didn't come out to play until the second half.
"We just weren't putting passes together," he said. "We talked about what we needed to do, and then we came out and amped it up in the second half."
Fishbein said the team needs to continue to come out every game and maintain its focus, because every team in the conference is looking to upset UNM.
"We're not as sharp as we need to be," he said. "We have to understand that on any given day, any team can beat us."
