Sports - The Daily Lobo

Sports

Execution needs to come from players

Isaac Avilucea | September 20

Jamie Foxx told us to “Blame It on the Alcohol.” Mike Locksley told us to “blame it on Locks.” Sorry, coach, but on the continuum of culpability, you’re about as guilty for the UNM team getting shish-kebabbed 37-13 by Air Force football as Denzel Washington was in that movie, “The Hurricane.” Can’t say the same about the players. Trust me, Johnnie Cochran would have a hard time defending these guys, because if the glove fits, you must convict.

Tailback James Wright is tackled by Air Force’s Ben Garland during Saturday’s game at University Stadium. Wright had 126 yards and two touchdowns against Air Force in the Lobo loss.

Sports

Wright's performance only highlight of game

Mario Trujillo | September 20

If a positive can be taken away from the Lobo football team’s 37-13 loss to Air Force on Saturday, it is James Wright’s running game.

Sports

Scoring starts early in 3-0 win against Gonzaga

Nathan Farmer | September 20

The UNM men’s soccer team capped a good weekend with a convincing 3-0 win over Gonzaga University on Sunday at the UNM Soccer Complex. The Lobos improved to 4-2 overall for the season. “It was an all-around great performance,” said head coach Jeremy Fishbein.

Rose Morris, center in red jacket, cheers with her teammates before a volleyball match against TCU at Johnson Gym on Wednesday. Morris didn’t play in Wednesday’s match, and it’s unclear when she’ll return to the court.

Sports

Players lose 'mojo' with hurt co-captain

Brandon Call | September 17

Nobody said losing a team’s on-court vocal and inspirational leader would be easy. With senior outside hitter and co-captain Rose Morris on the sidelines with a pinky injury, the UNM volleyball team came out flat and was defeated by Texas Christian University on Wednesday 25-18, 16-25, 25-22, 25-22 in the Mountain West Conference opener.

Sports

Perfect practice not showing up in games

Mario Trujillo | September 17

The UNM football team has already dubbed their offensive line the “Hitmen.” Now head coach Mike Locksley is calling for his linemen to block — and his team to execute. After taking two beatings this season, schematic wizardry is not going to get the Lobo football team over the hump against Air Force, Locksley said.

Sports

Challenge ends with blood on court

Brandon Call | September 13

The injury-plagued UNM volleyball team managed a runner-up finish at the Lobo Challenge this weekend. After sweeping Cal State Fullerton on Friday — 25-19, 25-17, 25-22 — the Lobos were handed their first loss of the season Friday at the hands of Baylor in a hard-fought 3-2 thriller.

Alexis Ball fends off Tulsa midfielder Emily McElrath on Sunday at the UNM Soccer Complex. The Lobos and Golden Hurricane tied, putting the Lobos at 6-0-1 for the season.

Sports

Goalless overtime draw prolongs perfect record

Loretta Cardenas | September 13

The record-shattering UNM women’s soccer team’s historic ride continues. UNM remains perfect at 6-0-1 and has tied the school record for most matches without a loss after battling Tulsa to a tie at the UNM Soccer Complex on Sunday. The Lobos played through two tough overtimes, but in the end neither team could find the back of the net.

True freshman Demond Dennis dashes past Tulsa’s Brian Moore. UNM’s running game, a staple of past Lobo squads, has been nonexistent so far this season.

Sports

Lobos historically reliable running game tripped up

Damian Garde | September 13

Through thick and thin — and mostly thin — the Lobo football team has been able to count on one thing: the running game. From Don Perkins to Don Woods, from Winslow Oliver to Rodney Ferguson, almost every era of UNM football has had a marquee back to carry the team. So, when this year’s Lobo squad averages 38 yards on the ground and a dismal 1.6 yards per carry over its first two games, there’s some cause for concern among the UNM faithful. Even head coach Mike Locksley, who perhaps got spoiled by the dominant Rashard Mendenhall during his tenure at Illinois, is struggling to find a remedy. “With this same style of offense (at Florida and Illinois) we led the SEC and the Big 10 in rushing,” Locksley said.

Sports

Disappointment grows, even for Lobo diehards

Isaac Avilucea | September 13

New Mexico is a grand whine cellar. Choosing to chastise Lobo football aficionados in his scathing departing shot, former head coach Rocky Long said in not so many words that UNM football supporters were nothing more than wine-and-cheese fans.

Tulsa quarterback Shavodrick Beaver eludes UNM defenders Kendall Briscoe, left, and cornerback DeShawn Mills in Tulsa’s 44-10 stomping of the Lobos on Saturday at University Stadium.

Sports

Touchdowns elude offense once again

Mario Trujillo | September 13

The UNM football team has yet to score an offensive touchdown after their 44-10 loss at the hands of Tulsa on Saturday at University Stadium. “It’s been a long time since I went two games without scoring a touchdown,” head coach Mike Locksley said.

Safety Jesse Paulsen drags down wide receiver Ty Kirk during a scrimmage at University Stadium in August. The Lobos will look to even their record when they take on Tulsa on Saturday at University Stadium.

Sports

Lobos look to weather the Hurricane

Ryan Tomari | September 10

There’s a hurricane warning this Saturday in Albuquerque. Early reports indicate the eye of the storm is headed straight for University Stadium. UNM will face Tulsa in its home-opener, but head coach Mike Locksley doesn’t want his team looking for vengeance from last year’s 56-14 beat down at the hands of the University of Tulsa Golden Hurricane, said linebacker Clint McPeek. “We would like to redeem ourselves,” he said.

Safety Ian Clark dashes during a play last season at University Stadium. Clark might not play this season after re-injuring his shoulder during the Lobos’ season-opener against Texas A&M.

Sports

Key player plagued by shoulder trouble

Isaac Avilucea | September 10

There comes a point when even a loyal soldier realizes some wars are lost causes — they aren’t worth investing in anymore. That point might have come for Lobo safety Ian Clark, the UNM football team’s most raucous and experienced defensive leader. A source close to Clark is “90 percent sure” Clark is out for the season after his left shoulder was re-injured for the second time in less than a month.

Despite having an extended period of success as men’s soccer head coach, Jeremy Fishbein, far right, would rather have his players be the face of the program.

Sports

Head coach says player growth a top priority

Ryan Tomari | September 7

Jeremy Fishbein is, and always has been, a knowledgeable soccer coach. His .666 career winning percentage is an indication of that. Fishbein has 87 wins in 125 games coached during his seven years at UNM, including one national championship appearance in 2005.

Sports

After season of selfishness, Lobos focus on teamwork

Isaac Avilucea | September 7

Wine hath drowned more men than the sea. So, too, has overconfidence. All last season, the UNM men’s soccer team battled to maintain humble sobriety — and lost. Liquored up on success — and drunk with talent — the Lobos ever-so-slightly reduced their investment in altruism, instead turning toward selfishness. Understandably: Winning, much like alcohol, makes for insatiable addicts.

Lance Rozeboom leaps over a San Francisco defender during Saturday’s 1-0 loss to the Dons. The Lobos had several opportunities to score, but didn’t take advantage of them.

Sports

UNM slips late in game against San Francisco

Nathan Farmer | September 7

Even with 17 shots, the UNM men’s soccer team didn’t make San Francisco’s goalkeeper Brendan Roslund break much of a sweat. That’s because the Lobos shot only twice on goal.

Forward Justin Davis walks off the field after the Dons upended the Lobos Saturday at the UNM Soccer Complex.

Sports

Cagey senior laces up for attempt at school records

Mario Trujillo | September 7

There is no doubt about who is the trigger man for the UNM men’s soccer team: Justin Davis. And he’s not gun-shy.The senior forward is coming into his final season with a chance to make it into the Lobo record books.

Sports

Announcing Lobo opener a welcome challenge

Isaac Avilucea | September 3

Perhaps this year’s season-opening radio broadcast won’t be as hectic as last year’s for Lobo football play-by-play announcer Scott Galetti.

Justin Davis races toward the ball. The Lobos open up home play against San Francisco on Saturday. The Lobos are 1-0 on the season.

Sports

UNM soccer expects good fight in first home game

Nathan Farmer | September 3

The UNM men’s soccer team opens up its home schedule on Saturday against No. 22 San Francisco.“It’s an exciting home-opener,” Senior Justin Davis said. Both teams look evenly matched. They enter Saturday’s contest from impressive victories in their first games of the season.

Head coach Mike Locksley and his team gather at midfield after a recent practice. The Lobos will head to College Station, Texas, to face Texas A&M on Saturday.

Sports

Lobos plan to be in game, not at it

Ryan Tomari | September 3

Mike Locksley is an optimist. He doesn’t appear at all worried that the UNM football team is headed for College Station, Texas, this weekend to face Texas A&M, a team that beat the Lobos 28-22 in Albuquerque last year.

Sports

Porterie will lead Lobo charge

Isaac Avilucea | August 31

As surely as Monday would follow Sunday, Donovan Porterie was going to be the UNM football team’s starting quarterback this season.