Wehan’s Brace Not Enough as Lobos Draw USD

September 4, 2015

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Christopher Wehan scored a pair of second half-goals, but it wasn't enough to lead the University of New Mexico soccer team to a victory in its 2015 home opener as the Lobos drew with visiting San Diego 2-2.
"We're disappointed with the draw, but you have to take a lot of positives away from it," UNM head coach Jeremy Fishbein said. "The guys showed a lot of courage and a lot of fight. We're a young team still, and I was proud of that. … But I'm unhappy. I wanted to win, but you have to look at the positives. We had some good performances and got two nice goals out of Wehan."
The Lobos carried play for the first half hour, coming close to opening the scoring on numerous occasions. Matt Dorsey was denied right on the doorstep and Wehan hit the post from the top of the box.
However, despite a 9-4 advantage in shots in the first half, UNM conceded first. San Diego won a corner and scored off a header from the far post in the 32^nd minute to lead 1-0 after the first 45.
The second half turned into Wehan's show for about five minutes. His first goal was a thing of beauty. Niko Hansen won a free kick on the edge of the box, and Wehan's shot found the top left corner to tie the match in the 66^th minute. Just over four minutes later he put the Lobos on top with a great effort.
He won a throw in on the near side and quickly restarted play by getting the ball to Hansen. A clever back heel found Simon Spangenberg who was fouled from behind, but the ball went straight to Wehan. Playing the advantage the redshirt junior buried it into the bottom left corner with his left foot to give UNM a 2-1 lead.
"I saw the opportunities come and took advantage of them," Wehan said.
San Diego stepped up its pressure, though, and tied the game in the 82^nd minute off a counter-attack.
Each team continued to battle as the game moved into overtime. UNM had probably the best chance with under a minute to play in the second extra session as Hansen fired a low cross into the box. Adrian Mora Delgado got a toe on it, but San Diego's keeper was able to smother it between his legs to preserve the tie.
On Sunday night at 6 UNM will face No. 19 UC Santa Barbara, which drew with Denver 2-2 earlier in the day at the UNM Soccer Complex.
"We have to recharge," said Fishbein. "We have a big one on Sunday against a great team, so we'll see what we've got."

Scoring Summary
San Diego (31:59): Price (Brandt)
New Mexico (65:30): Wehan
New Mexico (69:55): Wehan (Hansen, Spangenberg)
San Diego (81:33): Keegan (O'Neill)
Cautions
New Mexico: Rochowski, yellow (83:37)
San Diego: Bench, yellow (68:25); Babic, yellow (83:37)
Starters
San Diego: Olsen (GK), Price, Turner, Hoeckendorff, Vierya, Smith, Schmiege, Dearmas, Merlo, Zimmer, Babic
New Mexico: Beaulieu (GK), Seligman, Dorsey, Rochowski, Goss, Hansen, Khouri, Wehan, Gurule, Herrera, Dye

Notes