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With only two games left before the start of the Mountain West Conference season, the New Mexico women’s soccer team is still struggling with its youth.
The Lobos (2-6-0) enter the Jack in the Box Classic on a three-game losing streak after dropping a 1-0 decision at Saint Mary’s and 2-1 result to Pacific last weekend.
Head coach Kit Vela said the young players are still adjusting to the game.
“We need an attitude of belief that we get our system that we understand what we’re trying to accomplish as a unit,” she said. “As one of the older players said, ‘We can’t shut our brains off even for a second.’ And unfortunately the young players aren’t used to that they’re not used to having to be on for the full duration on.”
Through the nonconference slate, UNM has faced three ranked opponents — then-No.24 Texas Tech, then-No.1 North Carolina and then-No.12 Duke — and have lost to all of them.
Vela said the schedule was supposed to provide the younger players with a chance to get some much needed experience against some top teams.
“We just have to learn the lessons that we’ve been learning that’s what this schedule was put together for,” Vela said “We’re trying to mature through playing good opponents, great opponents. We learned new lessons last weekend.”
Today, UNM will host UC Santa Barbara (5-3-0), who is on a four-game winning streak after defeating San Jose State 2-0 last weekend. This will be the third meeting between the teams. The Lobos lost the first game 2-0 then won the second contest 1-0 in 2011 at the Gauchos.
Then on Sunday, UNM will face UC Davis (2-4-1), who’s dropped three out of its last four games.
Vela said the team hasn’t been pointing fingers at each other over the losses.
“They’re hungry. They had a great training session yesterday. They hold themselves accountable and they hold themselves responsible,” she said.
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Women’s soccer vs. UC Santa Barbara
Today
5 p.m.
vs. UC Davis
Sunday
1 p.m.
UNM Soccer Complex
