UNM men, women turn the page, spring into a new season
The UNM men’s soccer team is transitioning as a team and as a program.
As the Lobos prepare for the 2017 season, they do so minus nine-year assistant Paul Souders, who has taken an assistant job at Central Florida. First-year UCF coach Scott Calabrese was an assistant at Clemson when Souders was a standout player for the Tigers. Souders was twice the Far West regional assistant of the year.
“He was a big part of our program,” UNM head coach Jeremy Fishbein said. “He lived it and breathed it for nine years.”
Meanwhile, Fishbein is preparing for his 16th season in charge of the Lobos.
“I think change is always necessary to move forward in any organization,” Fishbein said. “We’re going to define everyone’s strengths and how to collectively be most effective.”
Fishbein’s current staff consists of Mike Graczyk, who also serves as recruiting coordinator, Patrick Poblete, the director of operations, and volunteer assistant Lucas Champenois, who also coaches the Rio Rapids Soccer Club.
“The big challenge is we haven’t been approved to hire another coach,” Fishbein said, referring to the UNM athletic department’s budget woes. “We’ve got two people doing the work that three did. That’s impossible.”
As to the prospect of affording to add another coach, he said, “I couldn’t answer that.”
Still, Fishbein is pleased with his players’ winter workouts.
“Training is awesome,” he said. “The guys have really embraced new roles. When the seniors leave, it’s an opportunity for other guys to step up. You realize how talented these young guys are when you view them from a different lens.”
The Lobos lose five seniors off their NCAA Tournament team. Returning players include defender Aaron Herrera (currently playing for Team USA’s U-20 team), forwards Sam Gleadle and Luke Lawrence, goalkeeper Jason Beaulieu and Tom Smart, who was a second-team all-Conference USA defender as a freshman.
Signing day brought four freshmen-to-be in the fold: defender Nick Barreiro of El Paso, midfielder Bailey Letherman of Sammamish, Wash., forward Nicolas Taylor of Coppell, Texas, and forward Alex Vedamanikam of Albuquerque.
“They’re all what we look for in members of our program,” Fishbein said. “They’re excellent students and passionate about coming to New Mexico. We think they’re special players.”
TEAM USA: Herrera and the U.S. U-20 team begin World Cup qualifying Saturday against Panama in Costa Rica.
HANSEN UPDATE: Former Lobo Nico Hansen is in camp with the Columbus Crew of the MLS. He and his teammates fled wintry Ohio for Sao Paulo, Brazil, for preseason workouts. Columbus plays Atlanta United in Charlotte, N.C., in an exhibition on Saturday.
SPRING SCHEDULE: The Lobos have one home match scheduled for the spring season — April 22 against the Colorado School of Mines. They also play Air Force in Taos on April 15.
Lobo women
When UNM coach Heather Dyche saw her team’s 2016 schedule, she knew it would be daunting, but not just on the field.
“Honestly, one of our fears was how it would affect the team in the classroom,” Dyche said.
The Lobos started the season with six road games and had six other away games, plus a game at a neutral site. They went 7-4-2 in those matches.
But the most impressive mark may have been their 3.62 gradepoint average during the fall semester.
“They worked hard,” Dyche said. “Our team knows that’s why they’re here. To get a 3.62, I’m so proud of that, I can’t even tell you.”
SERVICE: Lobo soccer players typically volunteer at such places as the UNM Children’s Hospital. But two recent graduates went international.
Brooke Webster and Katie Hinman visited Nicaragua last month with the organization Soccer Without Borders and helped put on a camp.
“Another big cornerstone of our program is giving back,” Dyche said. “Our players, and we as staff, get to be involved with soccer. We can’t take that for granted. It’s cool to see them recognize that.”
SPRING TIME: The Lobos have two home spring games — April 15 against nationally ranked Texas Tech and April 16 against Fort Lewis, which features a number of New Mexicans.
Dyche signed 13 players for next season — six from in-state. None are enrolled this semester. However, she does have 20 players in training.
“Spring is fun,” Dyche said. “You lose some players, but everybody else has an opportunity.”