It was nothing new for forwards Lawrence Robledo and Devon Sandoval, just another Robledo-to-Sandoval sequence, resulting in a game winner.
Taking a pass from his former club teammate, Sandoval scored less than two minutes into overtime to lift the UNM men’s soccer team to a dramatic 2-1 victory over Fort Lewis in its last preseason match Friday at the UNM Soccer Complex.
“On both goals Robledo did all the hard work. All I had to do was tap it into the goal,” Sandoval said, who helped the Lobos finish preseason 3-0.
Sandoval, an Albuquerque native who transferred from San Diego State in the spring, prefaced his overtime heroics by scoring the tying goal with five minutes left in regulation.
“It feels great to score in front of all these people,” Sandoval said. “I have a lot of friends and family here. Even though it’s only an exhibition, it still feels good.”
Hard knocks and dangerous tackles marred the game that resulted in 30 fouls called and six yellow cards, one that led to Lobo Blake Smith breaking his collarbone.
Fort Lewis, the Division II national champions, applied pressure early and notched the first goal of Friday’s contest in the 25th minute, when Fort Lewis’ Byron Cephers tapped in a free kick at the near post off a cross from Thomas Hoang.
From that point, Fort Lewis seemed content sitting back with the lead and disrupting the Lobos’ rhythm, so head coach Jeremy Fishbein instructed his players to attack.
“I told the kids at halftime, ‘We just needed to start performing and connecting passes and playing like we are capable of playing,’” he said.
Much to Fishbein’s approval, the Lobos came out with new life in the second half, but that left them susceptible to Fort Lewis’ dangerous counter attacks. If not for an amazing save from Lobo goalkeeper Victor Rodriguez, the Lobos could have been down 2-0.
But Robledo and Sandoval wouldn’t have it.
With time running out in regulation, midfielder Michael Green passed the ball toward the left wing to Robledo who beat his man and played a perfect pass to Sandoval. Sandoval tapped the ball into the goal from close range, sending the crowd of more than 1,800 into a frenzy.
“Devon’s the kind of guy that takes advantage of his opportunities to score,” Fishbein said. “It’s a bittersweet victory with the injury, and I am disappointed with the way Fort Lewis came out to
play. But it was a good win in a high-energy game, and I am proud of my team.”
Sandoval said these types of games will prepare the Lobos not only for their season opener but for other contentious games in the future.
“The game gave us some confidence,” Sandoval said. “We won’t be as nervous coming out at home on Wednesday, and it will take away some of our nerves.”
*UNM vs. Saint Louis
Wednesday
7 p.m.
UNM Soccer Complex*
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