The UNM soccer teams’ seasons are over.
Well, technically only the women’s season. The men still have an anorexic-slim chance at making the postseason, after losing 2-0 to Cal State Bakersfield in the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation tournament semifinal. With an RPI in the 50s, the Lobos will hear their verdict Monday when the NCAA tournament bracket is released.
In its first-ever NCAA tournament appearance, the UNM women’s soccer team lost 3-0 to No. 7 Notre Dame in the first round. The Lobos never rebounded from a first-half penalty kick, and the Fighting Irish sealed the victory with two goals in a 15-minute, second-half span.
Among the season highlights, UNM went undefeated in the MWC (5-0-2) and knocked off No.8 BYU.
Along the way, the Lobos picked up a boat-load of accolades: Goalkeeper Katie Cornell earned the Mountain West Conference Defensive Player of the Year; teammate Jennifer Williams was named the MWC Offensive Player of the Year; and head coach Kit Vela was named MWC Coach of the Year.
More disappointing, the UNM men’s soccer team all but ended its season after being picked as the MPSF preseason favorites.
The Lobos gave up a goal to Cal State’s Gyasi Zardes in the first 10 minutes, and he doubled the lead seven minutes into the second half.
Starting 4-1-2 against four nationally ranked teams, the Lobos started then dropped three of their next four games, including two conference home games.
They rattled off a seven-game unbeaten streak to end conference play and earned the No. 3 seed in the conference tournament.
UNM staved off elimination by toppling UNLV on Thursday, but later fell to Cal State Bakersfield. For now, the last page of the men’s season hasn’t been written, but it seems that a 9-5-5 record won’t curry any favor with the NCAA selection committee.
