The excitement is building around this year's UNM men's soccer team.
By winning its first four games, the Lobos and are off to their best start since 1987. After earning all four wins on the road, the Lobos are ready for some home cooking this weekend.
The team has acquired some new faces in freshmen phenoms Ben Ashwill, Brandon Moss and Lance Watson. These guys may be new to UNM, but winning is nothing new for head coach Jeremy Fishbein.
Fishbein brings a career-winning record with him to UNM. In addition to the newcomers, returning players are bringing with them the successes and winning ways of last year's team.
Looking to build upon the accomplishments of last year's team, the 2002 Lobos are off to a strong start. After earning a trip to the second round of the NCAA tournament last year, this year's team is striving to build on past successes. While freshmen players have accounted for seven out of the eight Lobo goals this season, it is the returning players who are truly dictating the tone.
"The freshmen are doing a tremendous job," Fishbein said. "But the whole tone and expectations are being set by our returning players."
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Winning isn't the only thing on the Lobos' minds. This year, UNM will host the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation Championships and the Lobos fully intend on being in attendance. That the championships are being held at home is not adding any undue pressure on this young team.
"I think it's more excitement than pressure," Fishbein said. "In terms of pressure, it hasn't even come across anybody's minds yet.
"It's not until the middle of November, so I think our guys are really just excited about each game and have taken that kind of attitude."
The Lobos are returning home after playing their first four games on the road. While home field is a welcomed advantage, Fishbein is aware that it is not all positive.
"There are a lot more outside factors at home that aren't an issue on the road," he said.
As the season progresses, the Lobos are also looking to answer a few internal questions - namely how this compound of youth and experience will carry them over the course of the season.
"We have very good players," Fishbein said. "But once again, how does the mixture of youth and experience all gel? Can they keep their focus? Those are the questions that are ahead of us."
While these questions wait to be answered, Fishbein still has a great deal of confidence in his team.
"We're going to be competitive in every game we go into," he said. "We're going to clearly be more talented than some teams. There are other teams that are going to be a lot more experienced, but I'm not going to say anybody is better than us on paper."
The Lobos bring their winning ways back to Albuquerque this weekend in their home opener. UNM will host the TLC Plumbing & Utility Invitational.
Action gets underway Friday at 7:30 p.m. at the UNM Soccer Complex when the team takes on California Polytechnic University at San Luis Obispo.
The action continues Sunday at the Soccer Complex when the Lobos host the University of Evansville. Tickets for Friday night's game are $1 at the gate.
