New Mexico released its new schedule and the team is ready to begin its road-heavy start of the season at the Midland Invitational in Texas. First year head coach Stephanie Wooten-Quijada said everyone has been very welcoming, and she likes what she sees as far as the team dynamic.
After two successful weekends at home, the UNM men’s soccer team is back on the road this week. The Lobos (4-2) will travel to California to play the UC Irvine Anteaters, a team New Mexico hasn’t faced since 2012. The last time UNM played UC Irvine was in Albuquerque in the fall of 2012. The Lobos managed to get a 2-1 victory, but only after a late game-tying goal by the Anteaters forced the match to go into double overtime.
New Mexico (1-1) suffered a heartbreaking loss to New Mexico State on Saturday, but it also lost some key players due to injury that could make things even tougher as the season continues. Head coach Bob Davie said arguably the team’s best defensive and offensive players will not be making the trip to New Jersey to do with battle Rutgers (1-1) on Saturday.
After an extensive road trip, New Mexico gets to come home, but they won't have much time to rest. Following nearly a month of road games all over the nation, the Lobos get to play in front of home fans for the first time in the 2016-2017 season, and will be facing off against a New Mexico State team with plenty of familiar faces.
For 42 years Mike Roberts’ voice rang true to UNM athletics. While the former broadcaster started with New Mexico football, Lobo fans will largely associate his commentary with basketball. On Tuesday afternoon, Roberts passed away at age 83 after a bout with cancer.
Jeff Nelson is not just another coach to seniors Cassie House and Julia Warren. New Mexico’s head coach has had the two under his wing from a young age, even when Nelson was just getting acclimated to the community, and the chile, himself.
Whether it’s at club or international level, Spain is almost inarguably one of the most dominant countries in the world when it comes to soccer. The UNM men’s soccer team now has a little piece of that distinction.
Though he has built a career playing professionally around the globe, former Albuquerque soccer standout Ben Spencer has always had a vision for the place he calls home. Spencer moved away from the Land of Enchantment at the age of 15 to pursue his dream of playing soccer professionally.
Alice Wright, who came to UNM from England, was part of the National Championship cross country team that the Lobos ran last fall. The Daily Lobo caught up with Wright -- this year a redshirt junior runner on the team -- to discuss what it has been like in the 10 months since emerging victorious in the NCAAs, getting used to New Mexico, and her goals for the future.
The touchback on kickoffs was moved from the 20 to the 25-yard line in college football for this season, but something else was recently unveiled between those points on Branch Field at University Stadium. Numbers usually appear in 10-yard increments on a football field, but in its home opener against South Dakota, the Lobos honored one of its fallen teammates by placing the number 22 at the corresponding yard lines. Markel Byrd, former Lobos safety, wore number 22 during his tenure at New Mexico. He had just ended his sophomore season, in which he helped the team earn its first bowl appearance since 2007.
New Mexico State started slow in both halves of the game, but relied on strong finishes to earn its first win over New Mexico since 2011. Early in the contest, the Lobos offense was rolling and the defense tightening up anytime the Aggies got near the red zone, forcing NMSU to settle for field goals.
New Mexico will play host to some of the best teams of the country in the Branch Law Firm/Dick McGuire Invitational, which opens on Monday morning. Despite heavy competition, head coach Jill Trujillo has no shortage of expectations for her team, and expects to hoist the trophy in her four seniors’ final tournament at home.
New Mexico ended the NAU Mountain Classic and its grueling seven game road trip with a 0-0 tie against Northern Arizona on Saturday night. The Lobos (3-2-2) played the Lumberjacks in a tight and equal match on paper
UNM took down the Grand Canyon Lopes 1-0 thanks to another goal by senior forward Niko Hansen and shutdown defense on Sunday night. The lone goal gave the Lobos (4-2-0) their second win of the Grange and Ashwill Memorial Tournament weekend, and their fourth straight overall. All four wins have been shutouts under junior goalkeeper Jason Beaulieu.
An opportunity to get better or a chance to play in an electric postseason atmosphere? Either way, New Mexico did not back down against the number one team in the nation in front of 4,473 fans, the fourth largest crowd in program history.
Last season, New Mexico State controlled the first half before blowing a lead in the second. On Saturday night at Aggie Memorial Stadium, New Mexico State returned the favor en route to a 32-21 loss in the Rio Grande Rivalry. It’s the first time NMSU has beaten UNM since 2011. The Lobos controlled the action for most of the game, but the Aggies made big plays on offense, defense, and special teams to scrap its way back and score the go-ahead touchdown late in the fourth quarter.
As they close a rigorous stretch of road matches, the Lobos opened the NAU Mountain Classic with a 2-0 victory over Grand Canyon University at Lumberjack Stadium. After a quiet first half by both clubs, New Mexico announced its arrival in after the break, sparked by junior midfielder Casey Murphy’s goal in the 51st minute.
It took 109 minutes and 32 seconds, but the grinding paid off. The Lobos took a 1-0 victory over the Colorado State University, Bakersfield Roadrunners on Friday, the first night of the Grange and Ashwill Memorial Tournament. The win came with 28 seconds remaining in the second period of overtime.
The past two nights, teams have not been able to master its serves. In both contests UNM has played in, the Lobos and opponents have combined for 42 service errors, 21 each night. New Mexico (6-2) would eventually find its groove and complete a 3-0 sweep over Montreal in an exhibition match on Saturday night.
New Mexico will be looking for two more wins at home this weekend. The Lobos will be hosting the Grange and Ashwill Memorial Invitational this weekend, where they will once again face two teams.
Solutions by The State News
