by Steven Fernandez
Daily Lobo
After slipping up at UNLV last week, the UNM men's soccer team has a little more work to do in order to win its fourth straight conference championship.
Despite that loss, however, the Lobos still have a chance at that goal beginning with the final two home games of the season this weekend.
UNM head coach Jeremy Fishbein said the team's goal is to win the conference and advance to the NCAA Tournament, and none of its remaining opponents can be overlooked.
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"I think our focus right now needs to be on this weekend," he said. "Sacramento State on Friday night's going to be a big game. It's a quality team, and what we're seeing is there's no easy games in the conference."
Sacramento State will take on the Lobos on Friday at the UNM Soccer Complex. UNM has never lost to the Hornets at home and is undefeated in the last 10 meetings.
However, the last few contests between the schools have been tightly contested. The Lobos have scored just one goal in each of the last six games against Sacramento State, netting a 4-0-2 record in that span.
And three of the last four games have reached overtime.
UNM goalkeeper Mike Graczyk said Sacramento State is a scrappy team, and that's why the games are usually so close.
"They are just a very organized team," he said. "They're one of those teams that kind of slides under the radar. They're a well-coached team. That's going to be a tough game."
On Sunday, UNM will welcome San Jose State to Albuquerque for the final home game of the season. The Lobos have won four straight against the Spartans by a combined 12-3 margin.
The last time San Jose State defeated the Lobos was at the UNM Soccer Complex in 2005. The Spartans are one of just two teams to have beaten UNM at home under Fishbein.
After this weekend's games, the Lobos will go on the road to take on Air Force and then Denver in the regular-season finale.
Each of the last two years, the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation Championship has come down to the final game of the season. Last year, Denver went into the final weekend in control of the conference but lost to UNM in Albuquerque, which gave the Lobos their third straight conference title.
Denver is 8-4-3 overall and 4-1-2 in the MPSF. UNM is 9-4-1 on the season and 4-1-1 in
conference play.
Fishbein said the coaching staff and players are focused on Sacramento State, but they realize the MPSF title could once again come down to the final game against Denver.
"We hope that's not the case, but we feel that if we're in that situation, and it does come down to the last game, and we're in that last game, that's OK with us," he said. "We feel we're the best team, and if we can't take care of our business, then we don't deserve to go."
Unless the Lobos host an NCAA Tournament game at the UNM Soccer Complex, this weekend could be the last time seniors like Graczyk get to play at home.
Graczyk said he is hopeful the Lobos can host a playoff game, but the team is worried about getting back in the win column after the UNLV game.
"I think after any kind of loss, you're just excited to get back on the field," he said. "It's always a great thing to come back to your home crowd. I think more than anything the players are just focused on Sacramento State and trying to get that win."
Men's soccer vs. Sacramento State
Today, 7 p.m.
UNM Soccer Complex
