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The UNM men’s soccer team clinched the No. 1 seed in the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation tournament last week, but that didn’t stop the Lobos from putting a beat down on Houston Baptist University on Saturday night.
Senior forward Devon Sandoval scored his 14th goal in his final regular-season game, and six Lobos contributed goals to the Lobos’ 6-0 win over the Huskies at the UNM Soccer Complex.
The six-goal total is UNM’s second-highest scoring total this season. UNM (15-3-0, 8-2-0 MPSF) scored 11 goals during an Oct. 19 game against UNLV. The Lobos have played 555 consecutive minutes without surrendering a goal. They have 10 shutouts in 2012.
“Another shutout, that was something we were definitely going for,” Sandoval said.
UNM clinched the No. 1 seed for the conference tournament on Oct. 28 with a 3-0 win at Seattle. After a first-round bye, the Lobos will play against the lowest seeded team on Friday.
While Saturday’s result did not affect their seed, the Lobos still had something to play for against Houston Baptist (4-10-2, 2-6-2 MPSF). The game marked the last home regular-season event for six seniors: Sandoval, goalie Victor Rodriguez, midfielder Nik Robson, defender Travis Campbell and forward/midfielders Levi Rossi and Blake Smith.
“We closed out conference exactly the way we wanted,” Rossi said. “Six shutouts to end the conference is pretty incredible. That’s just a team effort all the way around.”
UNM outshot Houston Baptist 22-7. The Lobos’ first five goals came in the first half, and the first two came off free kicks.
After an early Houston Baptist foul, Smith fired a free kick from the far right side to the left post. Freshman midfielder Ben McKendry connected on a one-touch header from the near post for UNM’s first goal at 10:24. Smith recorded his 13th assist of the year on the play.
Sandoval also benefited from a free kick at the 18:07 mark. Junior forward Michael Kafari took a free kick after being taken down by an illegal Houston Baptist slide tackle. Kafari’s shot was defended, but Sandoval took the deflection and scored from 16 yards out.
Sandoval nearly scored a second time moments later, taking a shot along the edge of the box. Houston Baptist deflected Sandoval’s shot, but sophomore forward James Rogers was there to score from 2 yards out. His goal came at the 30:36 mark.
Rossi had an unassisted goal four minutes later, driving from midfield and scoring on a shot from the near post.
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UNM’s fifth goal of the half came from junior forward Lawrence Robledo, who received an assist from Rogers and connected on a point-blank shot at 41:45.
“We kept the ball, the attacking play was great. We were very good,” UNM head coach Jeremy Fishbein said. “What can you say? It was 6-0, another shutout.”
Sophomore defender Adrian Mora Delgado capped UNM’s scoring with a second-half goal following a corner kick and an assist by junior midfielder Michael Calderon. Delgado’s goal came at 72:26.
Rodriguez saved all three Houston Baptist shots on goal, which all came in the first half.
Houston Baptist goalie Zach Harwerth saved six of UNM’s 12 shots on goal.
“We just went about it like any other game,” Rossi said. “For us, it was a prep game for the tournament because here on out, it’s single elimination. You lose and you’re out. We just tried to play it that way.”
Men’s soccer
vs. to be determined
Friday
7:30 p.m.
UNM Soccer Complex
