Head coach Jeremy Fishbein did what no other Lobo coach has been able to do since 1927: He took a Lobo sports team to an undefeated season.
The No. 1 UNM men’s soccer team made history after finishing its season 16-0-2, ending the regular season after it beat UNLV 3-0 on Saturday.
Fishbein was visibly excited after the game, and said his team has played well every game this season.
“It’s pretty fulfilling,” he said. “It’s pretty amazing doing it day in and day out. Now we get ready for the conference tournament and the postseason.”
UNM won all nine of its home games this year and is currently on a 12-game undefeated run. It finished 10-0-0 in conference and 7-0-2 on the road.
This season, Fishbein said he told his team to take it one game at a time and never overlook its next opponent.
“That’s how you have to look at it,” he said. “I think we have taken that approach and prepared well and the guys have been good.”
Fishbein has been the head coach at UNM since 2002, and has compiled a 136-44-32 record during his tenure.
In his first year, he took UNM to an 18-4-0 record and to the second round of NCAA tournament.
In 2004, he was close to an undefeated season when the Lobos went 17-1-2, and one year later he led to the Lobos to an 18-2-3 record, but they fell 1-0 to Maryland in the national championship game.
In his 10 years as coach, only once did the team finish with a losing record, and in all but two seasons the Lobos have won at least 12 games.
Sophomore midfielder Giovanni Rollie said Fishbein is an integral part of the team’s success.
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“I think he has everything to do with it,” Rollie said. “Everyone plays their role in this team and he plays his role very well. I respect him and could not ask more from a coach.”
In 2004, he won Soccer America National Coach of the Year. He won Far West Region Coach of the Year in 2005. On three separate occasions, he has won the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation coach of the year.
Senior midfielder Michael Green said that this year Fishbein has kept the team humble and makes sure they know every game is important.
“He has pushed us and he has created challenges for us, and obviously we have met them,” Green said. “It’s good that it’s not enough. Even though we are undefeated, he is still willing to push us and not be satisfied with where we are at.”
This season will be the eighth time that Fishbein has taken his Lobos to the NCAA tournament.
Senior midfielder Lance Rozeboom said the team has a stronger work ethic than its competition, which is the reason for its success.
“First off, we work harder than any team in the nation,” he said.
“Fishbein and the entire coaching staff make sure we are prepared for every game.”
