Lawrence Scores to Force OT, Lobos Fall 2-1
BOCA RATON, FLA. --- In just the second overtime game of the season, The University of New Mexico men's soccer team dropped its third Conference USA contest on Saturday night on the road to the FAU Owls. The Lobos, who are still receiving votes in the NSCAA Coaches Poll, fell by a final score of 2-1 in double overtime to the unranked Owls. UNM's lone goal was scored by junior Luke Lawrence to force overtime.
The overtime loss marks just the 15th time in Coach Fishbein's career with the Lobos that UNM has fallen in extra minutes. The last time the Lobos lost in overtime was last season on Oct. 4 against Kentucky.
"This loss is incredibly disappointing," head coach Jeremy Fishbein said. "We played very well for the majority of the game with 21 shots and 17 corner kicks. That being said, you can't give up two goals, and you've got to take your chances.
The game was played in their half, we created quality chances, and at some point, your attacking players need to finish."
The Lobos (7-5-0, 1-3-0 C-USA) kicked off the match against the Owls (4-6-1, 2-2-0 C-USA) in strong fashion, earning chance after chance in just the first 10 minutes of the contest.
One of the more promising of those opportunities came in the eighth minute when junior Sam Gleadle fired back-to-back shots. His first was a close one, blocked by the FAU defense, before senior Chris Wehan took a corner kick at 8:32 to find Gleadle again. Gleadle got the ball at the back post and fired, but hit the crossbar to keep the teams scoreless.
The Lobos launched another set of rapid-fire chances off of a corner kick when senior Josh Goss sent the ball into the box in the 42nd minute. Seniors Chris Gurule and Nick Rochowski each took their chance inside the six-yard box, but neither was able to find the back of the net.
The squads remained deadlocked at halftime despite the Lobos leading statistically at the break. UNM posted six shots to four for the Owls and added a 4-1 edge in corner kicks. Gleadle and senior Aaron Herreraled UNM at the half with two shots apiece.
Both teams continued to battle throughout the second half before Florida Atlantic's Danny Del Rio notched the go-ahead goal, his first of the season, in the 72nd minute to put UNM down 1-0.
The Owls remained in the lead for approximately 15 minutes before the Lobos netted the equalizer with less than three minutes left in regulation to force overtime, marking just the second time this season that UNM has played in overtime.
Lawrence was fed the ball from red-shirt freshman Devin Boyce before dropping his shoulder and beating an Owl defender to the net. Lawrence fired into the top right corner to tie it up, 1-1, with his second goal of the season.
The Lobos threatened in the second overtime period when senior Niko Hansen, who leads the Lobos with 19 points on nine goals and one assist this season, faced keeper Phillip Hitpass one on one, but his close-range shot was denied to keep the teams deadlocked, 1-1.
FAU responded just two minutes later with the game-winning goal by Oliver Powers to take the game, 2-1. The goal marked Powers' first of the season.
Overall, the Lobos dominated the statistics. UNM outshot the Owls 21-8 and posted 16 corner kicks to just two for FAU. Gleadle led the Lobos with nine shots, six on goal.
Junior keeper Jason Beaulieu slips to 7-5 on the season after posting three saves on the night. Hitpass registered 10.
The Lobos have yet to earn a victory this season when the opponent scores first, and is now 1-4 in road games, but still undefeated (6-0) at home.
New Mexico is set to return to action on Wednesday, Oct. 19, when they travel to Denver in their final non-conference tune-up before completing their last four C-USA games of the season.
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