The UNM Women’s Soccer team finalized its 2002 schedule last week. To call it a tough slate might be an understatement.
The Lobos, who finished second in the Mountain West Conference in 2001 after a poor showing in non-conference games, play six NCAA tournament participants in their 10-game non-conference schedule. UNM opens with the biggest and baddest of the six, the University of Texas at Austin on Aug. 30.
The Longhorns return all 11 starters from a side that finished 14-6-0, won both the Big 12 Conference regular season and tournament championships. Texas also holds one of the best home-field advantages in NCAA play, averaging 1,924 fans a game last year. The Longhorns advanced to their first NCAA Championship where it was upset 2-1 by SMU in the first round of the NCAA Tournament.
The Lobos return home two days to host their home opener against up-and-coming Pacific Athletic Conference power Arizona State University.
“Opening up against UT is a monster challenge,” head coach Kat Vela said in a press release. She added that going to ASU at home would be "two of the biggest non-conference games New Mexico has ever opened the season with.”
The Sundevils, who shut out UNM 3-0 in Tempe, Ariz., last year, return a solid core of players, including midfielder Stacey Tullock, a three-time All-Pac-10 performer. ASU also has three members of the Under-19 U.S. National team players. The Sundevils finished 10-8-1, 4-4-1 in Pac-10 play and narrowly missed the NCAA tournament.
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The Lobos face two more NCAA tournament teams, the University of Oakland and the University of Evansville, Sept. 19 and 21 in Evansville, Ind. The Grizzlies finished 16-4-1 on their way to the Mid-Continent Conference title. The Purple Aces posted a 13-7-1 mark in earning an NCAA berth.
UNM also hosts the Lobo Adidas Classic, a two-day tournament that includes the University of Texas at El Paso, the University of Houston and Northern Arizona University.
UNM opens MWC play on the road at San Diego State on Oct. 11. The Lobos’ MWC home opener is Oct. 17 against Brigham Young University.
Trio of Lobos to play at U.S. Soccer Festival: A pair of sophomores and one junior were selected to participate in the U.S. Soccer Festival in Houston, Texas, July 28 to Aug. 3.
Goalkeeper Kristin Winters and midfielders LeAnne Hendren and Michelle Longmire were selected after being named to the U.S. Amateur Soccer Association Region IV select team after their performance leading the New Mexico state select team at the USASA National Cup Tournament in June.
Winters will likely take over in goal this fall for former UNM goalkeeper Shelly Hammock. Longmire, a Los Alamos native, was named to the all-MWC second-team in 2001 and is one of three captains for the Lobos this fall. She started every game for UNM last year. Hendren, a Belen native, started seven games as a freshman in 2001. She had two assists and played 974 minutes, tops among Lobo freshman.
2002 University of New Mexico Women’s Soccer Schedule
Aug. 30 @ Texas 8 p.m.
Sept. 1 Arizona St. 5 p.m.
Lobo Adidas Classic
Sept. 6 UTEP v. NAU 4:30p.m.
UNM v. Houston 7 p.m.
Sept. 8 UTEP v. Houston Noon
UNM v. NAU 3 p.m.
Sept. 12 @ UTEP 7 p.m.
Sept. 14 Texas Tech (in El Paso) 7 p.m.
Sept. 19 Oakland (in Evansville, Ind.) 5:30 p.m.
Sept. 21 @ Evansville
Oct. 4 @ Oregon St. 3 p.m.
Oct. 6 @ Portland St. 2 p.m.
Oct. 11 @ San Diego St. 3 p.m.
Oct. 13 @ UNLV Noon
Oct. 17 BYU 6 p.m.
Oct. 20 Utah Noon
Oct. 25 Air Force 5 p.m.
Oct. 27 @ Wyoming 1 p.m.
Nov. 6-9 MWC Tournament in Provo, Utah
