by Steven Fernandez
Daily Lobo
Despite losing four key players to Major League Soccer, the UNM men's soccer team is still regarded as one of the most elite teams in the nation.
Collegesoccernews.com released its preseason top-30 poll on July 24, ranking UNM No. 9. Last season, the Lobos reached the finals of the NCAA College Cup, falling 1-0 to the University of Maryland.
UNM head coach Jeremy Fishbein said he is not focused on where the Lobos are ranked to start the season but is optimistic his team can prove to be one of the best in the country again.
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"We're more concerned with the rankings at the end of the season," Fishbein said. "I think we have the potential to be a very good team. There's still a lot to see."
The most challenging task for UNM will be trying to fill the holes left by Jeff Rowland, Brandon Moss, Lance Watson and Josh Brown, who were all taken in the MLS draft.
With the loss of those star players, the Lobos' roster looks young on paper. UNM only has two seniors, Andrew Boyens and Lars Loeseth, returning this season.
However, Fishbein and his staff went to work in the offseason to add talent to the team. UNM's 2006 recruiting class is ranked No. 5 in the nation, according to Collegesoccernews.com.
Fishbein said losing star players is a natural part of the game, and he hopes some of the new guys can perform well right away.
"At any good program, you want to graduate great players, and you bring great players in," Fishbein said. "It's going to be a younger team, but it's going to be just as an exciting team."
Included in the Lobos' 2006 recruiting class are four high school All-Americans. One of those players is Sandia High School graduate Michael Reed, who was also named New Mexico Player of the Year.
Fishbein said the recruiting class would be able to help the program continue the success it has seen in recent years.
"We brought in good recruits," Fishbein said. "Some of them are going to have to come in and be ready to play."
Fishbein said it is important to have some players who had backup roles last season be ready to step up and see more playing time.
One of the players who could be on the field more this season is Mike Porter. The sophomore said UNM should be ranked higher than No. 9, and the team can be very good again this season.
"I think we can be just as good as last year," Porter said. "We got a lot of young guys, but as far as talent goes, I think we're more talented than last year, and we'll probably be just as good."
UNM soccer fans will have to wait until the fourth game of the season to see the Lobos play at home. UNM returns home on Sept. 8 to play UCLA, which is ranked No. 8 in the preseason poll.
Smithson said he is looking forward to the home opener against the Bruins.
"That'll be huge," Smithson said. "There will probably be 5,000 fans, and it will just be a great atmosphere."
