Soccer - The Daily Lobo

New Mexico women’s soccer head coach Kit Vela answers questions from the media at the Tow Diehm Athletics Center on Aug. 20. UNM announced on Thursday that it will not retain Vela for the 2015 season.

News

Kit Vela's contract will not be renewed

Liam Cary-Eaves | November 21

New Mexico will take on a national party to search for a new women’s soccer head coach after the Lobos announced Kit Vela’s contract won’t be renewed. Vice President for Athletics Paul Krebs released a statement Thursday afternoon thanking Vela and her staff for their efforts, but said it was time to take the team in a new direction. "At this time, we have decided to not renew the contract for Kit Vela,” Krebs said in the release.

New Mexico midfielder Niko Hansen reacts after missing a goal attempt during the game against Missouri State on Oct. 12. The Lobos did not receive an at-large bid for this year’s NCAA Division I Men’s Soccer Championship and will miss the tournament for the first time since 2008.

Sports

Men's soccer season falls short of NCAAs

Isabel Gonzalez | November 18

The season is over for the New Mexico men’s soccer team. The field for this year’s NCAA Division I Men’s Soccer Championship was announced Monday morning, but with an 11-6-1 overall record, the Lobos did receive an at-large bid.

Sports

Men's soccer: Conference hopes end for Lobos

Isabel Gonzalez | November 14

A pair of late goals ended the New Mexico men’s soccer team’s Conference USA tournament run in a 2-1 loss to Old Dominion Wednesday. The Lobos traveled to Norfolk, Virginia, to face the tournament host Old Dominion for quarterfinal action. The Lobos had defeated the Monarchs 4-0 earlier this season, and were looking for yet another victory against them. But this time, the tables turned.

New Mexico midfielder Niko Hansen attacks the ball during the game against Missouri State on Oct. 12. The No. 5 seed Lobos will face Conference USA tournament host No. 4 seed Old Dominion today for quarterfinal action.

Sports

Lobos ripe for Conference USA tournament

Isabel Gonzalez | November 12

The UNM men’s soccer team ended its regular season on a high note, but now it’s crunch time. The No. 5 seed Lobos will begin their tournament season today as they face the No. 4 seed and Conference USA host, Old Dominion.

New Mexico midfielder Niko Hansen attempts to break free from South Carolina defenders during the game on Friday. The Lobos defeated the Gamecocks 2-1, earning the No. 5 seed for the C-USA tournament.

Sports

Soccer: Seniors sent off in style

Isabel Gonzalez | November 10

Senior Night proved successful as the New Mexico men’s soccer team finished its regular-season campaign with a 2-1 victory over South Carolina on Friday. With the win, the Lobos (11-5-1, 4-4-0) earned the No. 5 seed and will face the Conference USA tournament host Old Dominion (fourth-seed) on Wednesday for quarterfinal action. “I was real proud of our guys,” head coach Jeremy Fishbein said. “There were some nerves going in because it was a big game. It was important to get that (win) under the belt and send the seniors out in style.”

Sophomore midfielder Josh Goss controls the ball during Saturday’s loss to Marshall. The Lobos take on South Carolina tonight at 7 p.m.

Sports

End of senior tough on soccer seniors

Isabel Gonzalez | November 7

The New Mexico men’s soccer team will host South Carolina tonight for senior night and its regular-season finale. Although the UNM is no longer in the run for the regular-season title, the Lobos say they think they can still take the Conference USA tournament, and perhaps the NCAA. “We control our own destiny,” head coach Jeremy Fishbein said.

UNM midfielder Christopher Wehan races to gain control of the ball during Saturday’s game against Marshall. The Lobos lost 2-1.

Sports

Thundering Herd tramples Lobos

Isabel Gonzalez | November 3

It was a stunning loss for the New Mexico men’s soccer team. With 31 shots on goal and 15 corner kicks, the Lobos statistically proved better than Marshall University, who only recorded seven shots and no corner kicks. But Marshall proved better where it really counted. The Thundering Herd defeated the Lobos 2-1 on Saturday night. The loss brought an end to the Lobos’ five-game home winning streak.

New Mexico midfielder Katie Hinman, right, and Wyoming midfielder Kasey Curtis battle for possession of the ball during the game on Sunday at the Lobo Soccer Complex. The Lobos defeated the cowgirls 2-1, scoring both of their goals in the second half of the game.

Sports

Women's soccer: Late-game goal a winning memory

Kyle Tomasi | October 27

A freshman midfielder ensured that her senior teammates would have a final home game they’ll never forget. Claire Lynch scored the game-winner in the 86th minute Sunday to give the Lobos a 2-1 Senior Day win over Wyoming.“I can’t imagine anything better. We went down, but our team physically didn’t go down mentally,” senior midfielder Alexis Leyba said. “To score in the last five minutes of the game is unreal and I will never, ever forget that.”

New Mexico midfielder Niko Hansen dribbles the ball downfield against Old Dominion on Saturday night at the Lobo Soccer Complex. The Lobos won 4-0.

Sports

Men's soccer: Lobos end Monarchs' three-game streak

Isabel Gonzalez | October 27

The New Mexico men’s soccer team played one of its best games of the season on Saturday night, shutting out the Old Dominion Monarchs 4-0. The Lobos, who wore pink as part of their “Lobos Love Pink” cancer-awareness promotion, were coming off a painful 0-1 loss against Kentucky. Old Dominion, on the other hand, came in on a three-game winning streak.But that did not shake UNM’s confidence. Still disappointed from last week’s performance, the Lobos pulled themselves together to turn things around at the UNM Soccer Complex.

New Mexico forward James Rogers (7) kicks the ball away from Missouri State midfielder Parker Maher during the Oct. 12 game. New Mexico will play Old Dominion at 7 p.m. on Saturday at the UNM Soccer Complex.

Sports

Lobos host Monarchs this weekend

Isabel Gonzalez | October 24

The New Mexico men’s soccer team has some ground to make up in the Conference USA standings.UNM (9-3-1, 2-2-0 CUSA) sits in sixth place and will get an opportunity to move up when its hosts fourth-place Old Dominion (7-4-1, 2-1-1) on Saturday at the UNM Soccer Complex.

New Mexico midfielder Ruth Bruciaga aims for the goal on Oct. 3 against Air Force at the UNM Soccer Complex. New Mexico will play again against Colorado State at 7 p.m. tonight.

Sports

Lobos have two weeks left before MW tourney

October 24

With the Mountain West Conference Tournament less than two weeks away, the University of New Mexico women’s soccer team hopes to move up in the conference standings.After a 2-0 loss on Sunday against the Utah State Aggies, the Lobos dropped to fifth place in the current conference standings — two spots lower than last week’s rankings.

New Mexico midfielder Niko Hansen attacks the ball during the game against Missouri State on Sunday. The Lobos defeated the Bears 2-0.

Sports

Soccer: Lobos blow Bears away despite high winds

Isabel Gonzalez | October 13

Patience proved to be key for the 12th-ranked New Mexico men’s soccer team as it defeated the Missouri State Bears 2-0 in its last nonconference game Sunday night. This was the fourth straight win for the Lobos, who also won last week’s road game 2-0 against Florida Atlantic University.“We talked about the importance of this (four-game stretch), and we took care of business and won all four,” head coach Jeremy Fishbein said. “I think that’s the mark of a quality team.”

New Mexico forward James Rogers fends off Florida International University players during Saturday’s game. The No. 12 Lobos find themselves in Boca Raton, Florida, tonight to face Florida Atlantic before heading back on their home field on Sunday to battle Missouri State.

Sports

Lobos continue to outshoot foes but fail to connect

Isabel Gonzalez | October 8

It’s benchmark time for the New Mexico men’s soccer team.With just seven games left in the regular season, head coach Jeremy Fishbein said the New Mexico men’s soccer team has the chance to prove its worth.

New Mexico forward Sam Gleadle keeps the ball away from West Virginia players at the UNM Soccer Complex on Wednesday. After a 6-1 win over the Mountaineers, the Lobos play Florida International on Saturday.

Sports

Men's Soccer: Lobos net six big ones

Isabel Gonzalez | October 3

It didn’t take long for the New Mexico men’s soccer team to fix its scoring issues. Just 16 seconds into UNM’s non-conference match against West Virginia, a red card was issued to the Mountaineers, allowing midfielder Ben McKendry to take a penalty kick that gave the Lobos an early 1-0 lead.That was just the beginning of UNM’s scoring barrage in a 6-1 win over WVU Wednesday night at the UNM Soccer Complex.

Lobo sophomore midfielder Ruth Bruciaga keeps control of the ball at the UNM Soccer Complex against Florida on Sunday, Sept. 14. Last week, Burciaga scored three goals against New Mexico State and with this, she was named Mountain West Offensive Player of the Week.

Sports

Bruciaga nets player of the week honors for hat trick

Kyle Tomasi | September 30

Goals are hard enough to come by in soccer; multiple goals in a single game are even harder. Last week, UNM sophomore midfielder Ruth Bruciaga netted three goals against in-state rival New Mexico State.

Sports

Albuquerque native goes pro in soccer

Liam Cary-Eaves | September 30

Unlike the majority of childhood dreams, Ben Spencer Jr. never had to wake up from his. From a young age, Spencer, an Albuquerque native, said all he wanted to do was play professional soccer.

New Mexico midfielder Lindsey Guice steals the ball from New Mexico State players during the soccer game on Friday afternoon. The Lobos defeated NMSU 4-1.

Sports

Hat trick clinches game for New Mexico

Kyle Tomasi | September 22

New Mexico sophomore midfielder Ruth Bruciaga led the Lobos to a 4-1 victory over in-state rivals New Mexico State on Friday night at the Lobo Soccer Complex.Bruciaga gave UNM a 1-0 edge in the 26th minute when she tapped the ball in after NMSU’s goalie saved an initial shot. UNM had 17 shots in the first half while NMSU had 9.Carrying the one-goal lead into the second half, the Lobos wasted no time as Bruciaga scored her second goal in the 48th minute off a well-played ball from junior midfielder Dylann O’Connor in the box.

Lobo junior forward/midfielder Kevin Correa attempts to make a field goal during the soccer game against VCU at Lobo Soccer Complex on Sunday night. The Lobos won 2-0.

Sports

Soccer: Shutout follows tie game at Invitational

Isabel Gonzalez | September 21

The New Mexico men’s soccer team finished its last weekend before conference play with one win and one draw at home in the TLC Plumbing and Utility Invitational. On Friday, the Lobos’ match against the Drexel Dragons ended in a 1-1 draw.

Lobo soccer players keep the ball away from UCLA on Sept. 7 at the UNM Soccer Complex. The Lobos will be playing against Drexel tonight at 7 p.m.

Sports

Soccer: Lobo mens soccer back for home invite

Isabel Gonzalez | September 19

After recovering from its first loss with two road wins, the New Mexico men’s soccer team enters their final weekend before conference play begins.

Sports

Men's soccer: California dreams come true for Lobos.

Staff Report | September 14

The UNM men’s soccer team earned two wins in California over the weekend, the team announced. UNM beat San Deigo 2-0 on Sunday with Oniel Fisher scoring the first goal of the game off of a rebound in the 52nd minute, according to golobos.com.