Sports - The Daily Lobo

Sports

One man's take on current U.S. sports

Ryan Tomari | November 6

Below, for your enjoyment, is my take on what’s going on in the sporting world: MLB I wish I had a dollar for every time I heard someone in Albuquerque call him or herself a “disgruntled sports fan.” I would be a millionaire and give the whole journalism gig up. As a sports reporter, even at the college level, I don’t like to use the old phrase, “I am a fan of so-and-so.” It gets old really fast. Unfortunately for me, it has come to that point. I, a New York Mets fan, didn’t want to see the Phillies advance to and win another World Series, even if it meant the crosstown Evil Empire had to win it all.

Lobo basketball guard Jamal Fenton shoots a layup during Tuesday’s exhibition game against New Mexico Highlands University at The Pit. Lobos won the game 98-68.

Sports

Cowboys crushed at exhibition game

Isaac Avilucea | November 3

New Mexico Highlands must have forgotten Tuesday’s game at The Pit was an exhibition matchup. The Cowboys then apparently remembered at halftime, came out flat, were run through the cleaners and arrived out the other side neatly pressed. No chance — the UNM men’s basketball team, led by point guard Dairese Gary, powered to victory in its first off-the-books game, 98-68.

Sports

Teams leave competitors in the dust

Eddie Zayas | November 3

The UNM cross country team reduced the BYU Cougars to mere house cats. The Lobos stomped all over the juggernaut No.

Students rooted on the men’s basketball team from section 26, the student section, during the exhibition game against New Mexico Highlands University at The Pit Tuesday. Due to the renovations of The Pit, there will be less seats available for fans.

Sports

Pit renovations limit student seating

Mario Trujillo | November 3

Section 26 will not be touched during The Pit’s new renovations — but that doesn’t guarantee all students will get tickets come game day. Due to The Pit’s $60 million renovation, 3,000 seats in the mezzanine will be off limits, lowering the capacity of The Pit from 18,018 to a little over 15,102 and reducing the amount of potential overflow seating for students. And if past attendance is any indication of this season’s attendance, those 3,000 seats will be missed, said Wesley Henderson, president of Howl Raisers.

Sports

Player: You never stop playing rugby

Ryan Tomari | November 2

In the gloomiest of days for the football team, Lobo fans might look to the bright sun rising on the UNM Rugby team. On Saturday, the Lobo ruggers beat No.

Sports

Seniors look to MWC after 12 season wins

Eddie Zayas | November 2

It wasn’t “Fright Night” for the UNM women’s soccer team when they played UNLV on Halloween. UNM, never scared, pulled a 2–0 win The Lobos were led by seniors Jess Quador, Veronika Strnadova, Megan Bodenheimer and Katie McKernan.

Sports

Young team's talent found in pitching

Ryan Tomari | November 2

Don’t ask head baseball coach Ray Birmingham about his UNM baseball program. “It’s not my program,” he said.

Sports

Inches from a win, but still a miss vs. SDSU

Mario Trujillo | November 2

The UNM football team put up 20 points against San Diego State, the second highest output for the Lobos this season. And to think, it was on former head coach Rocky Long, now San Diego State defensive coordinator.

UNM swimming and diving team members dive into the pool during a race against Colorado State at Thursday’s swim meet in Armond H. Seidler Natatorium.

Sports

Plunging into great depths

Brandon Call | November 2

The Armond H. Seidler Natatorium might seem like just another building on UNM’s campus. But to the Lobo swimming and diving team, it’s a place to call home. After two years of practicing at West Mesa High School and other pools in Albuquerque while Seidler was renovated, the Lobos returned to their campus pool and blasted Northern Colorado out of the water 244-180 on Thursday. “You always feel more comfortable and confident at home,” said senior diver Sasha Evangulova.

UNM men’s golfer James Erkenbeck gazes into the distance. Erkenbeck, who throughout most of his life played soccer, focused on golf in high school. He finished his third straight tournament with a top-10 finish in the Baylor Intercollegiate on Tuesday.

Sports

Soccer player aspires towards golf career

Loretta Cardenas | October 30

Sophomore James Erkenbeck has taken eight years to make his interest in playing golf into more than just a fun hobby — now he’s looking to go professional.

Lobo center Erik Cook blocks one of his UNM teammates during the Cherry Silver scrimmage in this file photo. Cook said playing against former head coach Rocky Long, who is now San Diego State’s defensive coordinator, will be peculiar.

Sports

Locksley and team face former head coach Long

Ryan Tomari | October 30

No, it’s not the “Return of the Mack,” the hit 90s song by Mark Morrison — it’s just the return of UNM’s head football coach, Mike Locksley, to a 0-7 team. After a 10-day suspension for being involved in a physical altercation with assistant coach J.B.

UNLV wide receiver Ryan Wolfe hurdles over Lobo safety Frankie Baca in Saturday’s 34-17 drubbing at University Stadium. Wolfe had 11 receptions for 118 yards.

Sports

Lobos' performance warrants disrespect

Isaac Avilucea | October 25

All preliminary evidence points to one thing: Right now, the UNM football team is as malleable as soft-serve. It’s too bad the Lobos don’t play on Sunday, because they would go well with hot fudge.

UNLV backup quarterback Mike Clausen is hauled down by linebacker Carmen Messina and a group of Lobo gang-tackling defenders. Messina had 17 tackles and a sack, but the Lobos couldn’t overcome a late punt-return fumble and fell to 0-7 overall.

Sports

Interim coach: Defeat due to lack of momentum

Ryan Tomari | October 25

Subtracting head coach Mike Locksley from the mix didn’t add up to a win for the UNM football team.

Sports

UNLV leaves Lobos in losing streak

Mario Trujillo | October 25

The Lobo Football team is supposed to be in the winning business. But judging by the first seven games, business ain’t a-boomin’. With the 34-17 loss to UNLV, the Lobos join the ranks of only four other teams who remain winless in Division I football this season. “Definitely, when you go 0-7, there is disappointment in the team,” linebacker Carmen Messina said.

Jade Michaelsen sets up Lobo teammate Ashley Rhoades during UNM’s 3-2 loss to Colorado State on Saturday at Johnson Gym. The Lobos are 14-8 overall and 5-5 in the Mountain West Conference.

Sports

Tearful loss crushes chances for MWC title

Brandon Call | October 25

The UNM volleyball team went toe-to-toe with No. 25 Colorado State on Saturday at Johnson Gym. Despite junior outside hitter Taylor Hadfield’s career-high 21 kills, the Lobos dropped a 3-2 — 25-18, 18-25, 25-20, 20-25, 15-11 — heartbreaker. The outcome brought tears of disappointment from several UNM players, but the hard-fought match drew a standing ovation from more than 2,000 fans in attendance. “We battled for it,” head coach Jeff Nelson said.

Sports

Hoping for first win at Homecoming

Ryan Tomari | October 22

UNM interim head coach George Barlow said he is going to do everything in his power to help the UNM football team get the first win of the season against UNLV. And that could include gambling early. “I can’t say I won’t go for it on fourth down,” he said.

Phillip McDonald slashes through the lane in this file photo. McDonald will have to have to be more assertive with the basketball this season in order to temper UNM losing three seniors

Sports

Fame found as a Lobo a shock for new player

Isaac Avilucea | October 22

Rarely, if ever, does someone come to Albuquerque to get famous. Enter the curious case of Phillip McDonald, the UNM men’s basketball team’s second-year swingman.

George Barlow strolls down the sidelines on Tuesday at the Lobos’ Indoor Practice Facility. Barlow, UNM’s interim head coach, will wear the headset in place of Mike Locksley during Saturday’s home game against UNLV. Locksley is serving part of his 10-day suspension as a result of his altercation with assistant coach J.B. Gerald.

Sports

Stand-in coach sustains Locksley's lead

Mario Trujillo | October 20

The Lobo ship seems to be guiding itself with interim head football coach George Barlow at the helm. Take a little public relations skills and throw in a travel agent — the result is a 10-day temporary replacement coach. “Really what you are doing is seeing over — for lack of a better word — day-to-day operations of the program,” Barlow said.

Sports

World Series needs Yankees

Ryan Tomari | October 20

Is it really October without a New York baseball franchise playing in the postseason? For the last five years, I’ve felt kind of naked without the Yankees playing in the World Series.

Forward Justin Davis slides to the ground as the ball sails over him. The Lobos defeated Cal State Bakersfield 2-1 on Sunday at the UNM Soccer Complex.

Sports

Soccer win sets tone for conference play

Nathan Farmer | October 19

It took 89 minutes to tie the game — and nine more to win it. But the UNM men’s soccer team remains undefeated in Mountain Pacific Sports Federation play, moving to 2-0 after a thrilling 2-1 overtime win Sunday over conference foe Cal State Bakersfield.