Staff Report
The UNM women's soccer team's Erchen Theys picked up another award Tuesday to go with the honor she received over the weekend.
Theys, a junior midfielder, was named the Mountain West Conference Player of the Week Tuesday. That award comes after Theys took the Offensive MVP award at the University of Evansville's ProRehab Aces Classic in Evansville, Ind.
Theys helped lead the Lobos (5-3-0) to wins over the University of Oakland (Mich.) and Evansville, scoring the game-clinching goals in both games. UNM finished second in the tournament behind the University of Kansas.
She is the second Lobo to receive the MWC award. Junior forward Marte Dolva was awarded the player of the week honor on Sept. 9.
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UNM travels to Alabama for its next two matches Friday and Sunday.
Friday, the Lobos take on Southeast Conference powerhouse Auburn University. The Tigers (7-1-0), who are currently ranked 15th in the Soccer Buzz magazine top 25, have shown tremendous offensive potential. So far this season, Auburn has outshot its opponents 127-64 and outscored their opponents 29-5. The Tigers have gotten balanced scoring, getting either goals or assists from eight players.
In 2001, Auburn tied for the Western Division title of the SEC and advanced to the NCAA Tournament after losing the SEC championship to then no. 10 the University of Florida.
Auburn is led by sophomore forward Chrissy Culver, who has five goals and two assists this season.
Sunday, UNM travels to Troy, Ala. to take on Troy State University. The Trojans (1-7-0) are a mirror image of Auburn. Troy State, which plays in the Atlantic Sun Conference, has been outshot by its opponents 135-49 and has been outscored by a margin of 20-6. The Trojans are led by junior defender Lori McClendon, who has scored two of TSU's six goals. In 2001, Troy State finished 11-8-0, the program's best finish ever.
UNM enters the weekend in fourth place in the Mountain West Conference behind the first place University of Utah (5-0-2), second place San Diego State University (5-1-0) and the third place University of Nevada at Las Vegas (6-2-1)
Statistically, the Lobos are ranked second in the MWC in shots on goal with 123, second in goals with 16. The Lobos also rank third in points with 37 (16 goals and five assists) and saves with 40.
UNM opens conference play Oct. 11 against SDSU in San Diego. The Lobos' next home match is Oct. 17 against Brigham Young University, which currently sits in last place in the MWC at 3-4-0.
