ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. --- Senior Niko Hansen of the University of New Mexico men's soccer team scored with 28 seconds left in double overtime to give the Lobos a 1-0 victory over the visiting CSU Bakersfield Roadrunners on Friday night at the UNM Soccer Complex.

Hansen's goal marks his second of the season, both gamewinners. He was assisted by junior goalkeeper Jason Beaulieu for his first career assist.

"I couldn't be prouder of the team," head coach Jeremy Fishbein said. "We weren't at our best, we had our moments and created our chances but we kept fighting, we kept driving. We never put our heads down and that was a big-time winner by Niko with 28 seconds on the clock."

Despite several close calls from the Lobos and the Roadrunners alike, neither team was able to score throughout the entirety of regulation. In the second overtime period, neither team registered a single shot until, with the clock winding down into the final seconds, Beaulieu sent a kick from the Lobo box into the CSUB box. Hansen took possession of the ball on the left corner and shot into the bottom right corner of the net for the gamewinner before time expired.

"It was a bit of desperation at the end and it went our way this time," Beaulieu said. "In the beginning of the season against Indiana, it went the other way and this game went our way, so it evens out and hopefully we don't put ourselves in that situation too often."

"When I got the ball and I knew there were 30 seconds left, I know there's no time to build something so I just tried to put the team in the best situation to score." Beaulieu added. "I was just trying create something. Niko did something great in the moment that we needed from our forwards."

Beaulieu improves to 3-2-0 on the season, all three of his wins have been shutouts. The Lobos are also close to cracking into the top six in program history for most consecutive shutouts (4) and would tie four-shutout stretches in 1997 (9/12-9/21) and 1987 (8/29-9/26) with one more on Sunday. The record is seven consecutive shutouts, set from Oct. 14, 2012-Nov. 9, 2012.

The Lobo offense came out aggressive in the first half. Just over six minutes into the game, senior Josh Goss had one of many good looks when he blasted a shot from the far right wing that sailed high left of the crossbar.

Goss had another chance on net with 21:20 left in the half when senior Chris Wehan beat out a defender on the right side and drove toward the 10-foot box. As he reached the net, Wehan passed off to Goss in the middle who sent another close shot high to keep the teams even, 0-0.

CSUB threatened to take the lead when, with 16:54 on clock in the first half, the Roadrunners' Hugo Vinales darted into the box and fired a shot straight on goal. Beaulieu, who has yet to allow a goal in the run of play this season, dove on the ball to prevent the Lobos from falling behind.

The teams entered the locker room still tied, 0-0 despite the 6-2 shot advantage by New Mexico. UNM also held a slight edge in corner kicks and shots on goal, 2-1, at the half.

The Lobos looked for the win in the second half but were unable to seal it. New Mexico had another solid chance with just over 19 minutes left in regulation when Wehan was fouled just two feet outside the right side of the box. Goss took the free kick from the spot and crossed it toward the left post, but it sailed just above reach and out of bounds.  

With just over six minutes left on the clock, the Lobos got another chance. Hansen made his way in front of the net and took a point-blank shot on goal, but it landed right in keeper Nicolas Clever's hands to deny yet another Lobo advance.

UNM fired three shots in the first overtime period but failed to convert before the eventual gamewinner in the second overtime period.

The Lobos led in shots overall 17-7 and posted four shots on goal to three for CSU Bakersfield. The Lobos also posted six corner kicks to three for CSU Bakersfield while both teams finished even in saves (3) and fouls (13).

Offensively, Goss led UNM with five shots while Hanson followed with three shots, two on goal. Redshirt-freshman Tom Smart and Wehan also tallied three shots apiece.
Seven Lobos saw all 109:32 on the field including Beaulieu, Wehan, Smart, senior Nick Rochowski, seniorChris Gurule, sophomore Aaron Herrera and freshman Matthew Constant.

The Lobos are set to return to action on Sunday, Sept. 11 when they face Grand Canyon for their final game of the 2016 Grange and Ashwill Memorial Tournament at 6 p.m.

Prior to the start of Friday night's matchup, the Lobos honored the tournament's namesakes, Pat Grange and Ben Ashwill. Grange and Ashwill both played for the UNM team that reached the NCAA Sweet 16 in 2004, and Ashwill continued on to play for the 2005 team that went all the way to the NCAA Championship match. The Lobos welcomed the pair's parents, Mike and Michelle Grange as well as Tom and Donna Ashwill to the field prior to kick off to honor their memory and their outstanding contributions to Lobo Soccer.

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