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UPCOMING GAMES: The Lobos take off for a two-game road trip to California this week for non-conference games against Cal State Fullerton and UC Irvine. New Mexico faces Cal State Fullerton on Sunday, September 29 at 3:00 p.m. (M.D.T.) in Fullerton Calif. and then travels to Irvine, Calif. for a 8:00 p.m. (M.D.T.) match against UC Irvine on Tuesday, October 1.

Cal State Fullerton Titans (2-3-1) Location: Fullerton, Calif. Conference: Big West Head Coach: Al Mistri (Cal Poly Pomona ‘70) Career Record: 240-163-33 (22nd Year) Starters Returning/Lost: 8/3 2001 Record: 9-10-1 2001 Conference Record: 5-5-0 UNM vs. Cal St. Fullerton All-Time: 7-6-0 Last Time vs. Cal St. Fullerton: 2-0 loss in the 2000 Season Last UNM Win: 2-0 in 1999 Top Goal Scorer: Hector Orellana (5) Top Assists: 5 with one each Top Goalie: Sam Reynolds - .667 GAA in 5 games Notes: The Titans visit Fresno State on Thursday, September 26 before hosting the Lobos on Sunday. Two of CSF’s losses were against teams ranked in the NSCAA Top-25, including #4 UCLA (1-3 on 9/6) and #11 San Diego (0-4 on 9/8). CSF also lost to Santa Clara (2-3 on 9/21) who was ranked #24 in the Soccer America Top-25. Web Site: http//:sports.fullerton.edu

UC Irvine Anteaters (4-2-1) Location: Irvine, Calif. Conference: Big West Head Coach: George Kuntz (Arizona St. ‘89) Career Record: 118-196-30 (13th Year) Starters Returning/Lost: 6/5 2001 Record: 10-4-6 2001 Conference Record: 6-1-3 (2nd) UNM vs. UC Irvine All-Time: 4-4-0 Last Time vs. UC Irvine: 2-1 loss in 2000 Last UNM Win: 3-1 win in 1999 Top Goal Scorers: Dardo Acuna (2), Kyle Close (2), Lerato Simelane (2) Top Assists: Scott Bowman (2), Jason Thompson (2) Top Goalie: Cameron Rossi, 0.97 GAA in 7 games Notes: UC Irvine hosts No. 14 San Diego (9/25) and UNLV (9/27) before the Lobos come to town on October 1. The Anteaters tied No. 15 Alabama-Birmingham, 1-1, on August 31 in the season opener. Their two loses have come against MPSF foe San Jose State (0-1 on 9/22) and No. 17 Loyola-Marymount (1-3 on 9/8). Web Site: www.athletics.uci.edu

Lobos In the Rankings: The Lobos’ 8-0-0 record is gaining recognition throughout the country. UNM remained No. 5 in the NSCAA Midwest region poll and No. 28 in the CollegeSoccerNews.com Top-30 for the second consecutive week. The Lobos were also able to pick up nine points in the Soccer Times Top-25, one of two polls recognized by the NCAA. The Lobos are still yet to crack the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) Top-25, the other poll recognized by the NCAA, or the Soccer America Top-25.

Previous Rankings: The Lobos have only been ranked in two previous season. In 1992, UNM climbed as high as No. 17 in the Soccer America Poll for the week of October 20, 1992. In 1997 the Lobos earned their highest ranking in any poll when they reached No. 15 in the Soccer America Top-20 for the week of November 3, 1997. The No. 15 ranking was the last time UNM earned a spot in any poll.

All-Tournament: Four Lobo players made the Lobo Invitational All-Tournament team last weekend. Freshman Lance Watson was the Offensive MVP while sophomore Danny Bills was the Defensive MVP. Senior Junro Narita and junior Stian Eriksen were both all-tournament team members.

NCAA Statistical Rankings: New Mexico is 16th in the nation in scoring (2.75 goals-per-game) and 13th in defense (0.62 goals-against-average).

Ashwill 3rd in Goals Scored: Freshman Ben Ashwill leads the team, the MPSF and is tied for 3rd in the NCAA with eight goals scored in 2002.

Weber Top-15 in G.A.A.: Sophomore goalkeeper Andrew Weber’s 0.63 goals-against-average is 13th in the NCAA.

Most Win in the Country: There are six unbeaten and untied schools in NCAA Division I, (#1 Stanford 7-0-0; #22 Columbia 3-0-0; #25 UC Santa Barbara 6-0-0; UNC-Wilmington 4-0-0; Yale 4-0-0; and New Mexico 8-0-0) but the Lobos are the only team with an 8-0-0 record. No other teams has reached the 8-win mark at this point in the 2002 season.

Leading The Way: The Lobos hold the lead atop the MPSF standings and in several statistical categories. Freshman Ben Ashwill leads in points (17) and goals scored (8). Freshman Lance Watson and sophomore Eric Carlson lead the assist category with 4 each. Sophomore Andrew Weber leads with a 0.631 goals-against-average.

Best Start: UNM has started the 2002 season with eight-straight wins, the best ever in school history. Their longest win-streak is nine games and took place in the 1992 season.

Weber Moves up the All-Time Shutout List: Sophomore Andrew Weber recorded his third shutout of the season in a 1-0 with over Southwest Missouri State on Sunday. It was his eighth career shutout, moving him into a tie for No. 4 with Chad Nelson (1998-99) on UNM’s career shutout list.

What A Run: Dating back to last season, the Lobos have won 12 of their last 13 contests. Their only loss is a 2-0 defeat to No. 1 SMU in the 2001 NCAA Tournament second round.

Iron Men: The Lobos have two players who have played every minute in 2002, including sophomore Danny Bills and freshmen Brandon Moss.

Goals Galore: Last season the Lobos scored 27 goals in 21 games, averaging just 1.20 goals-per-game. Through eight games this season the Lobos have scored 22 goals are averaging 2.75 goals-per-game.

First Action: Lobo sophomores Josef Bachmeier and Stacy Lofton both saw their first action of 2002 this weekend. Bachmeier spent the last 15 minutes of UNM’s 4-1 win over Georgia State tending the Lobos’ net. Lofton saw 10 minutes of play on Friday against the Panthers and 25 minutes against SMS on Sunday.

Ashwill Approaching 10: Freshman Ben Ashwill needs just two more goals to reach double figures in that category for the 2002 season. When he accomplishes this feat, he will be the first Lobo to score ten or more goals in a season since 1997 when Justin Sells recorded 16 goals. I

Lobos Men's Soccer

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