Skip to Content, Navigation, or Footer.
The Daily Lobo The Independent Voice of UNM since 1895
Latest Issue
Read our print edition on Issuu
soccerweb.jpg

Senior forward Levi Rossi fights for the ball against a Loyola Marymount player last season. The men’s soccer team faces Tulsa and SMU at the Tulsa Invitational this weekend.

#2 at bay; smaller fish to fry

Defeat of UCLA bodes well for coming matches

The UNM men’s soccer team is looking to sustain its momentum after defeating No. 2 ranked UCLA last week.

The Lobos (1-0-0) head off to the Tulsa Invitational in Oklahoma to face the Tulsa Golden Hurricane (1-0-0) today at 7 p.m.
UNM men’s soccer was ranked No. 2 in the College Soccer News poll this week, while the NSCAA Coaches Poll placed the squad No. 3 and Top Drawer Soccer settled on No. 5.

Lobo head coach Jeremy Fishbein said the team can’t overlook the Golden Hurricane.

“Tulsa is a great team, consistent NCAA team, and a great attacking team, so we’re looking forward to the tournament,” Fishbein said. “We are healthy, knock on wood. Guys are getting better and our team identity is developing. We are in a real good place right now.”

Fishbein said UNM is not concerned about the weeklong break between its last game against UCLA on Aug. 24 and the game against Tulsa today.

“We will keep momentum on our side by focusing on getting better,” Fishbein said. “It’s a pretty focused team, so I don’t feel that is an issue of anything getting to their heads. The goals are: be your best at every opportunity, repeat as conference champions, and get some NCAA games at home. So the guys know the margin of error is pretty slim. I don’t think they are going to get too high or two low on one win. It’s a proud group.”

New Mexico’s all-time record against Tulsa is 7-4-1, and 3-1 under the reign of Fishbein. The last time the Lobos lost to the Hurricanes was in 2003 by a score of 3-2.

Tulsa defeated University of Missouri-Kansas City 4-0 in its season opener last Saturday. Oklahoma Forward Bryce Follensbee scored two goals and presents a threat heading into Oklahoma.

“Can we be better? Can we limit mistakes? Tulsa is a great attacking team so if you give them openings, they will take advantage,” Fishbein said. “We have to be good defensively. We have to have a mindset of shutting them out. If we defend first, our attacking guys will find the net.”

Senior goalkeeper Victor Rodriguez is set to return in the second game of the tournament against No. 16 ranked SMU after serving a two-game suspension levied by the NCAA.

Meanwhile, Patrick Poblete and Javier Lane have competed to take Rodriguez’s place in the Tulsa game. Poblete allowed two goals and had five saves against UCLA. Lane did not play.

Senior forward Devon Sandoval said it doesn’t matter who starts at goalkeeper versus Tulsa because both Poblete and Lane can play.
“Everybody has complete faith in Patrick and Javier,” Sandoval said. “I don’t think it hurts us at all.”

Enjoy what you're reading?
Get content from The Daily Lobo delivered to your inbox
Subscribe

On offense, the Lobos have plenty of firepower to throw at the Golden Hurricane, with Sandoval leading the way. Sandoval contributed two goals and one assist against UCLA, which earned him College Soccer News National Player of the Week and Top Drawer’s National Team of the Week Honors.

“It’s definitely an honor to get all those awards, but it’s because of my teammates,” Sandoval said. “We have the best team in the country and the hardest working team. I expect to be good every game. Those awards are nice, but it doesn’t mean anything unless we make a run at the end of the season. That’s what matters in the end.”

Comments
Powered by SNworks Solutions by The State News
All Content © 2024 The Daily Lobo