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Sports

UNM football falls to Colorado State in season’s second-biggest loss

Spencer Butler | October 17

The University of New Mexico football team lost to Colorado State University 7-36 at University Stadium on Saturday, Oct 16, which is their second-biggest loss of the season. UNM has now lost their last five games, including all three conference games that they have played so far, making their record 2-5. The victory for CSU happened against a Lobos squad without Terry Wilson, who didn’t play in the contest due to a dislocated elbow, according to head coach Danny Gonzales. Freshman quarterback C.J. Montes took Wilson’s place; prior to Saturday’s game, Montes had only played briefly in the loss against San Diego State University on Oct. 9, attempting one pass and rushing for -1 yards.

Sports

UNM women’s basketball predicted to finish second in Mountain West

Matthew Salcido | October 13

The University of New Mexico women’s basketball team were predicted to finish second in the Mountain West Conference in the 2021-22 preseason poll, decided by the Conference’s head coaches and select members of the media and released today. The Lobos received seven first-place votes, only behind California State University, Fresno, who received thirteen. The separation between the Bulldogs and Lobos in total vote count (269-251) and first-place votes is the closest between the predicted first- and second-place finishers since the 2017-18 season, indicating a closer than average gap between the top two teams as perceived by the head coaches and media.

Sports

UNM volleyball beats Boise State 3-1

Annya Loya | October 10

The University of New Mexico volleyball team beat Boise State University 3-1 in a home match at Johnson Center on Saturday. With this win, UNM is 14-3 for their season and 5-1 in conference play, tied for first in the Mountain West Conference. The Boise State Broncos promised to be one of UNM’s toughest opponents yet as the Broncos entered the match with 14 wins and only three losses. Boise State has averaged a 0.266 kill percentage throughout the season compared to UNM’s 0.248 percentage. “We came into the game knowing it was going to be one of the biggest tests of the season so far and the highlight is we didn’t back down,” head coach Jon Newman-Gonchar said.

Sports

UNM soccer pulls out 1-0 win against Boise State

Matthew Salcido | October 3

The University of New Mexico soccer team defeated Boise State University 1-0 at University Stadium on Sunday, Oct. 3. The Lobos are now 9-2 overall and 4-0 in conference play, good enough for the top spot in the Mountain West Conference women’s soccer standings. Just two days after a grueling double-overtime win against Utah State on Oct. 1, this game was never going to be an easy one, even though the Broncos had also had to play a game on Friday, Oct. 1. Boise State proved to be extremely physical, committing 12 fouls and receiving three yellow cards for unsporting behavior.

Sports

UNM losses to Texas A&M, UTEP set stage for conference play

Spencer Butler | September 30

The University of New Mexico football team will return home this weekend after two road losses against Texas A&M University on Sept. 18 and the University of Texas at El Paso on Sept. 25. These losses put UNM at 2-2 as they prepare to enter conference play against the United States Air Force Academy on Oct. 2. Texas A&M is the only team ranked in The Associated Press’ top 25 that UNM was scheduled to play, and it was expected to be a hard game for the Lobos. In the game, Aggies quarterback Zach Calzada threw for three touchdowns and 275 yards, and Aggies running back Isaiah Spiller ran the ball 117 yards.

Sports

UNM soccer wins first conference game against Wyoming 4-1

Matthew Salcido | September 26

The University of New Mexico women’s soccer team defeated the University of Wyoming Cowgirls 4-1 in a high-octane scoring rout on Sept. 24 at University Stadium. The win comes against the Lobos’ first conference opponent of the season and puts UNM 6-2 overall. The match started with a Wyoming goal only 2:20 in that was so unexpected it felt like an accident; the Wyoming bench went wild when defender Savannah Warner sailed the ball into the bottom right of the goal off an assist from midfielder Jamie Tatum. UNM’s normally clamorous crowd quieted even as the Lobos came close to tying the score on three different shots.

Sports

UNM volleyball beats Air Force, Fresno State 3-0

Annya Loya and Matthew Salcido | September 26

The University of New Mexico volleyball team won their first two conference matches 3-0 at home, the first against the United States Air Force Academy on Sept. 21 and the second against California State University, Fresno on Sept. 23. The first sets of both matches were the closest as the Lobos went 25-20 against Air Force and 26-24 against Fresno State. UNM managed to beat both of their opponents in every single basic statistic except one (UNM lost digs against Air Force 29-30). UNM was ruthlessly efficient against Air Force with a 0.453 kill percentage, and they just flat-out beat Fresno State across the board.

Sports

UNM beats NMSU 34-23 in rivalry game

Spencer Butler | September 12

The University of New Mexico football team beat their in-state rivals, the New Mexico State University Aggies, 34-23 in front of a strong crowd of 28,470 fans at University Stadium on Saturday. This is the first time UNM has won their first two games of a season since 2005. UNM got off to a quick start, opening the game with a 3 play, 64-yard touchdown drive that was capped by a 4-yard rush from running back Bobby Cole. The only score NMSU was able to manage as a response in the first quarter was a 43-yard field goal from kicker Ethan Albertson before the Lobos got another touchdown from a Terry Wilson Jr. 15-yard pass to tight end Connor Witthoft.

Sports

UNM volleyball goes 2-1 at first home tournament

Annya Loya | September 12

The University of New Mexico volleyball team played their first home tournament on Friday and Saturday, beating Southeastern Louisiana University and Seattle University before suffering their first loss of the season at the hands of the University of California San Diego. The UNM Tournament began with a match against Southeastern Louisiana, which the Lobos secured with a score of 3-0. The Lions had lost all four of their matches this season (excluding exhibition games) before their match with UNM. The Lobos dominated Southeastern Louisiana with their height, and UNM was able to win with ease. This lopsided win was also an opportunity for UNM to show off their freshman middle blocker Elizabeth Woods.

Sports

UNM football to play NMSU rivalry game on Saturday

Spencer Butler | September 9

On Sept. 11, the University of New Mexico and New Mexico State University — home to the two major football programs in New Mexico and respective rivals — will face off for the first time since 2019. The UNM-NMSU rivalry has been competitive recently, as UNM has been holding a 6-4 record against NMSU since the 2010-11 season. The last game these two teams played took place back in 2019, and ended in a 55-52 final score in favor of the Lobos for former head coach Bob Davie’s final win with the program.

Sports

Heating up the Hustle: UNM gears up for rivalry game

Megan Gleason | September 6

Football fans are eager for the upcoming rivalry game between the University of New Mexico and New Mexico State University on Sept. 11 at University Stadium. The Lobos are coming off of their 27-17 win against Houston Baptist University last week; meanwhile, the Aggies are already on a two-game losing streak at the start of their season. Red Rally will preface the game on Sept. 9. This event, taking place on Johnson Field, will feature a 25-foot-tall Aggie effigy on a stake that will be burned to the ground.

Sports

UNM women’s soccer topples formidable Washington opponent

Matthew Salcido | September 6

The University of New Mexico women’s soccer team made a statement to the entire women’s soccer industry on Sunday, Sept. 5 by beating the University of Washington at University Stadium. The 2-1 win against Washington proved an impressive feat as Washington was ranked nineteenth in the nation in the United Soccer Coaches preseason poll. The Lobos originally went into Sunday’s match 1-2 overall after suffering a tough loss to Oregon State University on Aug. 29. The Huskies came to Albuquerque 1-3, but had so far only lost to one opponent outside the preseason top 25.

Sports

Lobos volleyball rolls through Wildcat Classic

Matthew Salcido | September 6

Six games into the 2021-22 season, UNM volleyball hasn’t lost a single set, placing them at 6-0. The Lobos dominated the Wildcat Classic last week, beating University of Wisconsin and Abilene Christian University on Friday and then destroying Texas Southern University on Saturday. Wisconsin’s Green Bay came out of the weekend as the second-best team, losing only to UNM and winning both other matches 3-0. Even against a fairly strong team, the Lobos dominated across the board, besting the Phoenix in kills, assists and digs. UNM outside hitter Kaitlynn Biassou was everywhere, collecting 9 kills, 2 aces, 3 blocks and 9 digs.

Sports

2021 UNM Athletic Hall of Honor inductees announced

Matthew Salcido | September 6

Just like every year since 1986, the University of New Mexico Alumni Lettermen’s Association released their list of new inductees into the UNM Athletic Hall of Honor and other special awards. This list, announced on Sept. 3, distinguishes athletes, coaches, officials, groups and more as particularly outstanding individuals and teams. “In addition to their athletic prominence, emphasis is placed on professional achievement, civic contributions and exemplary citizenship,” the Letterman Hall website says. Former Lobos basketball guard/wing combo Hunter Greene is one of the inductees. Greene had a stellar career, going from seldom playing his freshman year to leading the team in points during his junior season and graduating as the all-time leading scorer in Lobos history.

Sports

UNM women’s basketball to play difficult non-conference competition

Matthew Salcido | September 6

After a shortened season that only featured three non-conference games due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the University of New Mexico women’s basketball team finally has a full slate to go up against starting in November. The first three non-conference games of the season will be against Lamar University, Northern New Mexico College and Prairie View A&M University. UNM hasn’t lost one of their first three games of a season (not including exhibition games) since 2018, and they will more than likely beat their first three opponents this year as well.

Sports

Track and field to enter indoor season at UNM with rejuvenated roster

Matthew Salcido | September 6

The University of New Mexico track and field teams will have four indoor meets at home this winter, and both the men’s and women’s teams are hoping to show off some of their new additions. The UNM women’s team finished fourth at the Mountain West Conference Championship last season while the men’s finished fifth. The UNM women lost school-record high jumper Jamari Drake to the University of Georgia and conference champion 3000m steeplechase veteran Charlotte Prouse to graduation; both finished top 10 in their respective events at last season’s NCAA National Championship and will be hard to replace. Highlights in the incoming class this season include Lauren Fowler, a sprinter and long jumper out of Alta Sierra High School.

Sports

UNM women’s swim and dive returns after season lost to COVID-19

Matthew Salcido | September 6

The University of New Mexico women’s swimming and diving team is back after missing the entire 2020-21 season due to COVID-19 concerns. After missing a whole season, the team has changed in some profound ways, losing top swimmers but also bringing in a good mix of new recruits. The 2019-20 UNM swimming and diving team finished eighth in the Mountain West Conference Championship, winning three silver medals and one bronze. One of the major departures from the 2019-20 team is Hedda Øritsland, the top swimmer for UNM in 4 of the 15 individual swim events.

Opinion

OPINION: Sexism pollutes sports industry

Megan Gleason | September 6

Sexism in sports has tainted every aspect of the industry and continues to do so even today. In a seemingly progressive society, we remain decades behind where we should be. Women are continuously viewed as lesser than men, and this trend in sports is something that needs to be addressed and worked on. From a local perspective, I see a distinct lack of coverage in female teams, whereas male teams are in every media aspect imaginable. The University of New Mexico has more womens’ sports teams than mens’, so why am I only hearing about the mens’ teams?

Sports

UNM women’s cross country shows potential to win another national championship

Matthew Salcido | September 6

Women’s cross country is always expected to be in contention for a national title at the University of New Mexico, and this year expectations are already high. UNM women’s cross country was ranked fourth in the nation by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association NCAA Division I Women’s Cross Country National Coaches’ preseason poll, behind only Brigham Young University, North Carolina State University and Stanford University. The team was also picked to finish first in the Mountain West Conference in the 2021 preseason poll. If UNM women’s cross country hopes to win their third national championship this year, they will have to follow the recipes that gave them titles in 2015 and 2017.

Sports

UNM football wins first game of season

Spencer Butler | September 3

On Thursday, the University of New Mexico football team kicked off their 2021-22 season with a 27-17 win over NCAA Division I Championship subdivision opponent Houston Baptist University. After a 642-day gap for the Lobos playing at University Stadium, a large crowd welcomed their players back. Early on in the game, the Lobos dominated the Huskies as quarterback Terry Wilson passed for two touchdowns — one to tight end Kyle Jarvis and another to wide receiver Trace Bruckler — while the defense held Houston Baptist to zero points. Momentum swung to the Huskies in the second quarter after a 44-yard punt return by wide receiver Tyson Thompson and a 44-yard field goal by kicker Gino Garcia.