Sports - The Daily Lobo

Calli Thackery runs at the NCAA Mountain Region Championships Friday, Nov. 14, 2014. The women's cross country team took first place in the Mount West Cross Country Championships this past Friday.

Sports

Cross country: Lobos finish atop Mountain West Cross Country Championships

Robert Maler | November 2

A pack of Lobos crossed the finish line together at the Mountain West Conference Championships on Friday in Reno, Nevada. What appears to be the top women’s cross country team in the country captured the conference title for the eighth year in the row. Head coach Joe Franklin was also named Mountain West Women’s Coach of the Year for the eighth consecutive time.

Sophomore Sharon Coone lunges for the ball against a UTEP player at the McKinnon Family Tennis Center Sunday Nov. 1. The Women's tennis team will return in the spring after not qualifying for the UTSA/ITA.

Sports

Tennis: UNM leaves Lobo Invitational unscathed

Robert Maler | November 2

The New Mexico women's team ended the Lobo Invitational Sunday they same way they began it: with a win. The Lobos won all six singles matches against the University of Texas-El Paso, capping the weekend without a blemish in singles competition at the McKinnon Family Tennis Center. “It’s similar to the format that we would be playing in the spring,” head coach Kelcy McKenna said. “For our three new (team members), it’s just nice to kind of get a taste for what it’s like.”

Lobos Cassie Ulrich slams her fists together after letting through a shot in the first half against San Diego State Friday night. The Lobos battled their way to a 2-0 loss against the Aztecs.

Sports

Women's soccer: Lobos settle for third place after loss to SDSU

J.R. Oppenheim | October 30

The New Mexico women’s soccer team showed it can keep pace with the Mountain West’s best team, but San Diego State proved it’s the tournament’s No. 1 seed for a reason. SDSU forward Leah Pruitt broke a 1-all tie as the Aztecs dropped the Lobos Friday night at a rain-soaked UNM Soccer Complex.

Lobos senior forward Korynn Blanksma jumps over Fresno States goal keeper after making a goal at the UNM Soccer Complex Sunday, Oct. 18. The Lobos play San Diego State Friday at 7 p.m..

Sports

Women's soccer: Lobos can clinch MW tourney's No. 2 seed Friday

J.R. Oppenheim | October 30

New Mexico has a couple different scenarios to lock up a No. 2 seed in next week’s Mountain West women’s soccer tournament.

Sports

Cross Country: Eight straight conference titles for top-ranked New Mexico

Liam Cary-Eaves | October 30

Streaks were continued while others ended for the New Mexico Cross Country team during the Mountain West Cross Country Championships on Friday. For the women, UNM’s runners extended their dominance in the Mountain West for eight consecutive titles. However for the men, the Lobos six straight conference titles came to a close in Reno, Nevada

Sports

Men's soccer UNM shooting for seventh, shot at C-USA tourney

Isabel Gonzalez | October 30

With just two games left in the regular season, the UNM men’s soccer team is feeling the pressure more than ever. The Lobos (7-5-3, 1-4-1 C-USA) are yet to earn their spot in this year’s Conference USA Championship. The top seven teams in the conference will be able to compete, and although the Lobos are currently in the seventh spot, that could change very quickly—for better or worse.

Freshman guard Jannon Otto reaches out for a lay up at WisePies Arena Friday, Oct. 16. Otto was appointed as preseason freshman of the year Wednesday morning.

Sports

Women's basketball: Preseason accolades are hearsay; Lobos ready to play

Liam Cary-Eaves | October 30

Preseason accolades allow for speculation in anticipation for the upcoming season. New Mexico head coach Yvonne Sanchez said her interests lie with how her squad is going to play, not how people think her team is going to perform. Sanchez said she knows teams are going to be gunning for the Lobos this upcoming season after the tremendous finish the team had last year.

Sports

Swimming: UNM seeks victory in winnable dual meet

Mathew Narvaiz | October 30

After UNM’s loss last weekend to Wyoming at home, the swim and dive team looks to turn things around with a win against Northern Colorado. UNM (2-1) lost in a dual meet against Wyoming at home last weekend, with a final score of 170-130. It wasn’t a tragic loss, though, with great performances from UNM’s freshmen. Adriana Palomino, a freshman from Tempe, Arizona, won three events, while another freshman, Mareike Foster, finished first in the 200-meter breast stroke.

Lobo senior middle blocker Skye Gullatt delivers a spike against San Jose State at Johnson Center Thursday night. The Lobos swept the Spartans 3-0.

Sports

Volleyball: Lobos break out the brooms on Thursday in sweep over Spartans

Liam Cary-Eaves | October 30

For the second straight match, UNM’s defense has propelled the squad to consecutive sweeps on their home court. Halfway into the Lobos’ four game home-stand, New Mexico has yet to lose a set. On Thursday night, the Lobos got off to a sluggish start, but really got things clicking en route to a 3-0 sweep over the San Jose Spartans.

Alice Wright runs at the NCAA Mountain Region Championships Friday, Nov. 14, 2014. The Lobos will look to defend their number one ranking at the Mountain West cross country championships on Saturday.

Sports

Cross Country: Lobos seek sweep in conference championships

Robert Maler | October 29

Conference titles will be on the line at the Mountain West Cross Country Championships this Friday in Reno, Nevada. The women’s team, ranked No. 1 in the nation, will be the conference favorite. Among the Mountain West field they will be battling Boise State University, who is ranked No. 9 in the nation. The men’s team currently resides at the four spot in the conference behind Boise State, Air Force and Colorado State.

Lobos forward Khadijah Shumpert demonstrates her pre-game superstition at the Davalos Training Center Saturday, Oct. 24, 2015. Khadijah’s ritualistic superstition involves her washing her hands five times before setting foot on the court.

Sports

Halloween: For sports, superstition is the way

Liam Cary-Eaves | October 29

The wide world of sports is a magical place. So much so, in fact, that obsessive-compulsive tendencies rule its world. A plethora of fans, sports information directors and, of course, the players themselves, have rituals they endure in order to facilitate a positive energy toward their respected teams. Superstition in sports has been around for decades. Tracing back to ancient tales, timeless traditions, and of course longstanding curses, the majestic ambiance has a rightful place in every arena, field or ballpark. New Mexico’s junior outfielder Danny Collier said the feeling can be traced to his freshman Sandia High School baseball shorts.

UNM midfielder Chris Wehan kicks the ball to his teammate at the Soccer Complex on Tuesday, Oct. 27, 2015. The Lobos lost to Charlotte 0-2.

Sports

Men's soccer: Charlotte's defense too stern for New Mexico

Isabel Gonzalez | October 27

The UNM men’s soccer team fell 2-0 to the Conference USA preseason favorites, the Charlotte 49ers on Tuesday night. New Mexico head coach Jeremy Fishbein said he thought he had an idea of what to expect coming into the game, but unfortunately the Lobos were not able to keep up with Charlotte.

Setter Hannah Johnson digs the ball off of an Air Force attack at Johnson Center Tuesday, Oct. 27, 2015. The Lobos beat Air Force 3-0 and play San Jose Thursday Oct. 29.

Sports

Volleyball: Good all-around play gives UNM sweep over Falcons

Liam Cary-Eaves | October 27

The Lobos’ newly acquired identity has translated into recent success. A complete team effort allowed New Mexico to rid of Air Force in a three set sweep in Johnson Center on Tuesday night. With head coach Jeff Nelson’s new lineup, UNM has won four of the team’s last five games.

Junior forward Niko Hansen fights past two UAB players at the UNM Soccer Complex Sunday, Oct. 18, 2015. The Lobos play the 49ers Tuesday at 7 p.m..

Sports

Men's soccer: Lobos still striving for C-USA tourney bid

Isabel Gonzalez | October 27

Five teams have already secured their spots in this year’s Conference USA Championship, but UNM is still looking to qualify. Two more spots are up for grabs, but if the Lobos want one of them, they need to start racking up points fast. “I hate to say it, but it’s coming down to these last few games,” UNM head coach Jeremy Fishbein said. “We’re definitely starting to feel the pressure.”

Middle blocker Simone Henderson (left) and Devanne Sours attempt to block a UNLV attack at Johnson Center Saturday, Oct. 17, 2015. The Lobos face off with Air Force Tuesday night at Johnson Center.

Sports

Volleyball: Lobos looking past San Diego State hiccup

Liam Cary-Eaves | October 27

The New Mexico volleyball team finally gets to relax, eat some green chile and play in front of their fans at Johnson Center. Well, that may not be entirely true. The Lobos just returned from a 3-2 loss at San Diego State as part of the team’s 1-1 split on the road. After returning to the Land of Enchantment on Sunday, the Lobos must turn around and play their only Tuesday night match of the season against Air Force.

Sports

Women's soccer: Chavez nabs MW's weekly defensive honors

J.R. Oppenheim | October 26

New Mexico defender Emily Chavez earned this week’s Mountain West Defensive Player of the Week honors, the conference announced Monday. Chavez helped the Lobos' back line to two shutouts over the weekend, a 1-0 victory at Colorado and a 3-0 win at Air Force.

Redshirt senior running back Jhurell Pressley runs through Hawaii’s defense at University Stadium on Saturday, Oct. 17. The Lobos lost to San Jose State 21-31 on Saturday, Oct. 25.

Sports

Football: Apodaca hit-and-miss in first start at QB

Thomas Romero-Salas | October 26

After weeks of internal debate, head coach Bob Davie finally decided to start quarterback Austin Apodaca. The move worked out early as New Mexico took a 14-7 lead midway through the first quarter against San Jose State after a 4-yard score by tailback Diquon Woodhouse. However, UNM’s lead didn’t last long, as SJSU outscored the Lobos 24-7 for the rest of the game, resulting in a 31-21 loss in San Jose, California on Saturday.

Bart Van Leijen hits the ball alongside his teammate Hayden Sabatka at the McKinnon Family Tennis Center on Saturday, Oct. 23. The Lobos had no winner go through the finals at the USTA/ITA Regional Championships this weekend.

Sports

Tennis: Lobo duo falls in finals at UTSA/ITA Regional Championships

Robert Maler and Robert <aler | October 26

New Mexico was unable to crown any victors at the end of the 2015 USTA/ITA Regional Championships on Sunday. UNM tennis doubles partners Hayden Sabatka and Bart Van Leijsen made it to the finals of the five-day event before falling to Denver University’s Henry Craig and Alex Gasson in a tight battle.

Senior forward Madisyn Olguin tries to pass Fresno State’s Fanny Johansson at the UNM Soccer Complex on Sunday, Oct. 18. The Lobos beat Air Force 3-0 on Sunday, Oct. 26.

Sports

Women's soccer: Lobos stay in second place after win at Air Force

J.R. Oppenheim | October 26

New Mexico put itself in position for a first-round bye in the Mountain West women’s soccer tournament after capturing two key wins in Colorado Springs, Colorado. Friday night’s win against Colorado College secured a conference tournament bid for UNM and, benefiting from a San Jose State loss earlier on Friday, New Mexico now sits in second place in the standings. Sunday’s 3-0 win over Air Force kept the Lobos in the hunt for the No. 2 seed.

Madeline Horner dives through the air as Allyson Concepcion watches at the Seidler Natatorium on Saturday, Oct. 24. The Lobos lost to Wyoming 170-130.

Sports

Swimming: Underclassmen shine in loss to Wyoming

Liam Cary-Eaves | October 26

Gutsy performances from the freshman class were not enough to push the New Mexico swimming and diving team past Wyoming during Saturday’s dual meet at Seidler Natatorium. Adriana Palomino took three wins in tough distance races, but more contributions were needed as the Lobos fell to Wyoming 170-130.