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Monday, November 17, 2008

Lobo Soccer Awaits NCAA Fate

By Glen Rosales
For the Journal
          And now the waiting begins.
        Thanks to Simon Ejdemyr's successful penalty kick in the 69th minute, the University of New Mexico men's soccer team can hold out hope that its season will continue.
        The Lobos beat Denver 1-0 on Sunday at the UNM Soccer and Track Complex in the regular-season finale.
        That means they will be holding their breaths until 4 p.m. today, when the NCAA selection committee announces the pairings for the 48-team championship tournament.
        New Mexico has been in the tournament as Mountain Pacific Sports Federation champions four consecutive seasons.
        But this year, UNM (11-6-2, 7-3) finished second in the conference to the Pioneers (10-6-2, 8-1-1).
        "We've done everything we can do to be invited to the tournament," Lobos forward Chris Wright said. "I've felt confident all week."
        Wright helped set up New Mexico's only goal when he was yanked in the penalty area, while adding a flourish as he fell.
        "I was getting pulled pretty hard," he said with a smile. "I realized I wasn't going to be able to make a play on the ball. It was a foul, but I tried to make it easy for him to call."
        Although it was the only goal, the Lobos controlled the action, holding Denver without a shot while generating numerous scoring chances.
        "We played really well," UNM coach Jeremy Fishbein said. "I'm really proud of the guys. We've really come together this season. We've been getting better as the season progressed.
        "I'm seeing us play a lot more as a team. I felt early in the year, there were a lot of individual stuff. The players were more worried about their stats and going pro."
        Now the Lobos have to hope their improvement came in time to convince the selection committee it deserves a tournament berth.