The UNM men's soccer team is going to need a pair of dancing shoes to go along with its soccer cleats come Nov. 15.
The Lobos took down the Sacramento State Hornets 1-0 in Sacramento on Sunday to grab an automatic bid to the big dance, otherwise known as the NCAA tournament.
A goal by Lance Watson off a pass from Jeff Rowland in the 10th minute proved to be the game winner.
The No. 2-ranked Lobos (15-1-1, 9-1-1 Mountain Pacific Sports Federation) recorded their school record 10th shutout this season against the Hornets (5-11-1, 4-7-0 MPSF).
UNM had plenty of chances to score throughout the match, but failed to capitalize, head coach Jeremy Fishbein said. Fishbein said the missed scoring opportunities might have been a positive.
"It's always good to be challenged," he said. "It keeps us humble and hungry. It's a good gut check for us to come out and win close games."
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UNM blasted 16 shots in the match to Sacramento State's nine, while Lobo goalkeeper Andrew Weber ended the day with a slew of records. Weber is now the Lobo career leader in games played (80), shutouts (24), minutes played (7,391) and saves (343).
UNM's nine wins in the MPSF are the most in the program's history and are good enough to clinch the regular season conference title for the second time in school history.
"We are more confident now than we've ever been," junior captain Brandon Moss said. "We are really comfortable with how we are playing right now."
The Lobos will be dancing for the second time in the three years Fishbein has been at the helm. Don't ask the coach about the tournament just yet, though.
"It doesn't do us any good looking past the next game," he said. "That's the attitude we've had all season and that's the attitude we are going to keep."
That next game is Sunday against the San Jose State Spartans at the UNM soccer field, a team UNM shellacked 5-1 on Thursday. The game carries added weight, because it could decide how many teams have to play UNM at home during the NCAA tournament.
The Lobos are undefeated at the UNM soccer field this season. "We're not going to let our chances to host (in the NCAA tournament) go down the drain," Moss said.
