Winless Rebels give Lobos a run for their money

by Steven Fernandez

Daily Lobo

The University of Nevada-Las Vegas would not be defeated as easily the second time around.

The No. 12 UNM men's soccer team needed an overtime goal to beat UNLV 1-0 one week after the Lobos defeated the Rebels 4-1 in Las Vegas.

Although UNLV is winless on the season, it gave the Lobos all they could handle Saturday at the UNM Soccer Complex.

UNM's Justin Davis, who scored the game-winner in overtime, said UNLV was a different team Saturday.

"They definitely played a lot better," he said. "It was a lot better game than when we went up there last week. Hats off to them. They played well. We were lucky to pull this one out."

While the Lobo defense didn't allow many good looks at the goal, the UNLV defense frustrated the UNM offense. UNLV kept a majority of its players in the backfield to make it hard for the Lobos to generate an offensive attack.

UNM head coach Jeremy Fishbein said it was an effective

strategy.

"UNLV had a lot of numbers behind the ball," he said. "They played really well, and we just weren't clicking. Any time a team defends with that many numbers, it's hard to break them down."

In last weekend's victory at UNLV, the Lobos set a season high with four goals scored.

Fishbein said the game in Las Vegas might have made it harder for the Lobos to focus Saturday.

"This is a tough game to play," he said. "As much as we want to get up for it, we probably took it a little more lightly than we

needed to."

Playing UNLV in two straight games made the contest that much tougher, sophomore Jack Smithson said.

"I think they figured us out

after playing us last time," he said. "They kept 11 guys behind the ball, and it was kind of hard to make things happen. Give a lot of credit to them tonight."

Davis' goal came in the 97th minute when the Lobos' Brandon Barklage had a throw-in from the sideline. UNLV headed the ball off the throw-in, but Davis took the rebound and put the game away.

Davis limped out of the game in the 82nd minute after he twisted his ankle but returned for overtime.

Davis said he was happy to get back on the field and help the team win.

"It was great because we had our opportunities earlier that we should have put away, but it was good after getting hurt to show everyone that I was good to go," Davis said. "It was a good way to go out."

Fishbein said he was proud of the way Davis went back on

the field.

"That kid battled," he said. "He played very well today, and fittingly, he hit the winner."

UNM goalkeeper Mike Graczyk and the defense recorded the eighth shutout of the season in the win.

Smithson said it's a huge asset to have a defense that is stingy.

"The defense has been great this year. I don't think UNLV had any decent shots," he said. "It just lets us know that we're going to be in every game."

Although the Lobos would like to make things easier and win in regulation, the close wins are important too, Graczyk said.

"(Fishbein) told us at halftime that great teams find a way to pull through games like this," he said. "We didn't play the way we wanted to tonight, but to end tonight with a victory is good for us."

Men's soccer VS. Sacramento State

Friday

5 p.m.

Sacramento, Calif.