The Lobo men’s soccer team got its first Conference USA win on Sunday, and this week it will be on the hunt for a second one.
Before the team’s 3-2 victory over UAB, UNM was going through what Lobo keeper Jason Beaulieu described as a tough stretch. Beaulieu said his team has not given up during the rough patch, during which they have only garnered one victory in their five most recent matches.
The Lobos (7-4-2, 1-3-0 C-USA) got the result they were looking for, and head coach Jeremy Fishbein was once again in a good mood.
“I’m proud of the guys,” he said. “I think it’s a game that we can use as a turning point in terms of our attitude and the fight we need to have, which up until this point ... I don’t think we’ve been complacent, but there just hasn’t been an urgency.”
This Friday, the Lobos are facing Marshall University (4-8-0, 0-5-0 C-USA) — the Thundering Herd took down the Lobos 2-1 last season when it came to the UNM Men’s Soccer Complex. This year, Marshall will have the home-field advantage, which Fishbein said could make the game more challenging.
“They’re good at home. They are real tough at home,” he said. “We need to be real disciplined on how we play, and a little bit more cautious defensively.”
Saying the Herd will be hungry for a win is an understatement. Marshall is on a seven-game losing streak. During this period, the team has allowed 14 goals and only scored three.
Although the Herd might not be doing so well at the moment, Fishbein said the Lobos have to focus on themselves and shouldn’t take anything for granted.
“It’s all in our corner,” he said. “It’s not being dictated by our opponents.”
Competition is also becoming more intense as the C-USA Men’s Soccer Championship grows closer (Nov. 11-15). The top seven teams in the conference will play in the championship, and five teams have already secured their spots: Charlotte, FIU, Kentucky, Old Dominion and South Carolina.
Fishbein says his team is “not cruising” at this point, so the Lobos are going to have to keep their energy up.
“We do have high expectations, that’s what this program is built on,” Fishbein said. “That’s why guys are here. It’s good to feel the pressure a little bit. That’s part of the deal.”
Get content from The Daily Lobo delivered to your inbox
The Lobos’ long-term goal is to make it to the NCAA Tournament, especially since they missed it last year. Fishbein says he is confident his team can achieve this goal.
“I like where we are,” he said. “I’m excited for our game on Friday. We have to take it one at a time and finish the regular season strong.”
Isabel Gonzalez is a sports reporter for the Daily Lobo. She can be reached at sports@dailylobo.com or on Twitter @cisabelg.
