After what could be described as a less-than-ideal regular season, the Lobos sneaked through to clinch a spot in this year’s Conference USA Championship. The Lobos had trouble during the regular season of conference play, only winning two matches. However, they say they are ready to take advantage of the opportunity presented to them.
Sitting on the bench last year, Tim Williams became familiar with the atmosphere of WisePies Arena. And now that the exhibition schedule is in the books, he knows what it’s like to play before the Albuquerque crowd. Williams, a junior transfer from Samford University, got his first-game experience as a member of the New Mexico men’s basketball team after sitting out last year. The NCAA's eligibility rules require all transfers to sit out one year before they can play for their new teams.
Sometimes it takes more than skill to garner a victory. New Mexico’s defense kept UNM in Saturday’s game against Utah State, but Head Coach Bob Davie said the Lobos were due for some good fortune during the squad’s 14-13 victory. The game was by no means a fluke, Davie said. But if it weren’t for some favorable bounces, a missed field goal and timely penalties, things could have been different for New Mexico late in the contest.
Colorado State’s size posed big problems for New Mexico’s offense in a 3-0 sweep at Johnson Center on Saturday night. The Rams (21-3, 14-0 MW) showed why they are still the top team in the Mountain West after sweeping the Lobos for the second time this season.
As the preseason comes to a close, women’s basketball Head Coach Yvonne Sanchez said she feels confident about her team’s ability to succeed going into the regular season. The Lobos faced New Mexico Highlands for their second and final exhibition game of the preseason, in which they dominated in an 80-39 victory. The team comes off a strong first exhibition game in a 78-41 win against Western New Mexico.
New Mexico’s defense has finally reached its potential. After weeks of inconsistent play, the Lobos’ defense shut down Utah State in a 14-13 win at University Stadium on Saturday. UNM made several big plays and held USU to just 294 total yards of offense. USU had a chance to take the lead late in the fourth quarter, but kicker Brock Warren missed a 41-yard field goal to give UNM (5-4, 3-2 Mountain West) the win.
The Lobos season is not yet over following a crucial 3-0 win over the Florida Atlantic Owls on Senior Night Friday. With this win the Lobos clinched their spot in this year’s Conference USA tournament. It was an important win, but by no means an easy one, especially since the first half was not so hot for the Lobos.
Craig Neal needs a leader. Through both of the team's preseason exhibition games, the young UNM men’s basketball team showed its immaturity and lack of leadership, the head coach said after his team edged out Rogers State 80-69 Friday night at WisePies Arena, aka The Pit.
For the first time in nearly a decade, New Mexico has a legitimate shot at making a bowl game. The Lobos head into the final four games of the season with a 4-4 (2-2 Mountain West) record, meaning they’re just two wins away from bowl eligibility.
UNM forward Lindsey Guice kept New Mexico's Mountain West women's soccer tournament championship hopes alive, but a change at goalkeeper gave San Jose State an advantage in a shootout. The Lobos fell out of the tournament in heartbreaking fashion Thursday night in San Diego, losing the PK battle by three scores to two. It propelled the Spartans to the championship game against either San Diego State or Colorado College, who played later Thursday.
New Mexico’s quest to rise in the Mountain West fell short in a five set heartbreaker against Wyoming on Thursday night in Johnson Center. It was a roller coaster of a night for the Lobos as a whole, as the squad couldn’t find any sort of consistency on the night.
The quality of UNM’s post play is the least of the team’s worries. After New Mexico’s 78-41 rout over Western New Mexico on Wednesday night, the Lobos biggest question mark is who head coach Yvonne Sanchez is going to start. Two of last season’s starters watched the game from the bench. Seniors Khadijah Shumpert and Alexa Chavez were both wearing jeans at the end of the bench, Shumpert with an illness and Chavez rehabbing a foot injury.
New Mexico will rely on both of its main quarterbacks down the stretch. Head coach Bob Davie has decided that both Lamar Jordan and Austin Apodaca will split playing time with just four games remaining on the schedule. The Lobos' next opponent is Utah State, who they play this Saturday at University Stadium.
New Mexico will face a big test this weekend beginning with Wyoming on Thursday night. The race for first appears to be out of reach for the moment, but the runner-up spot is wide open with four teams right in the thick of things. UNLV, New Mexico, Wyoming, and Boise State are the four programs sitting above the .500 plateau, all in a position to finish behind the undefeated CSU Rams.
Saying Friday night will be a big one for the UNM men’s soccer team is an understatement. The final game of the season will decide whether or not the team will make the playoffs. UNM (7-5-4, 1-4-2 C-USA) will face Florida Atlantic University at 7 p.m. on Senior Night in hopes of getting a spot in this year’s Conference USA tournament. Only the top seven teams in the conference are admitted, and New Mexico is clinging to a spot, currently sitting in seventh place.
New Mexico kept its season going at the Mountain West women’s soccer tournament Tuesday evening in San Diego, capturing a 2-0 victory over UNLV. Senior Lindsey Guice helped secure the win with the go-ahead goal and an assist on the insurance. The win avenged a loss earlier in the season to UNLV. It also moves No. 3 seed UNM (10-8-1) into the tournament semifinals at 5 p.m. Thursday against San Jose State. The winner moves on to Saturday’s championship bout.
Exhibition games tend not to be the prettiest games on earth, but it’s hard to ignore a 96-point effort. The New Mexico offense exploded to nearly 100 points in its first exhibition game Tuesday evening, outgunning Colorado State-Pueblo to a 96-84 victory at WisePies Arena.
Gone are the days of intrasquad play; the Lobos will face their first opponent of the 2015-2016 campaign Wednesday night against Western New Mexico.
New Mexico forward Madisyn Olguin earned a spot on the First Team All-Mountain Mountain West, the conference announced Tuesday. Olguin finished the regular season with six goals, including five in conference play, to lead all Lobo scorers.
In his first two years as head coach, Craig Neal didn’t want to give too much away schematically during the exhibition schedule.
Solutions by The State News
