UNM braces for home match vs. No. 13 Kentucky

University of New Mexico men’s soccer coach Jeremy Fishbein won’t deny that a nice problem to have is, nonetheless, still a problem.

Riding the hot feet of junior Aaron Herrera, the Lobos (4-2-0) were impressive in two victories last week in the Grange and Ashwill Invitational. No. 13 Kentucky (4-1-1), meanwhile, is in town tonight as a rousing start to the Lobos’ Conference USA schedule at the UNM Soccer Complex.

And yet in an email to “Lobo Faithful” sent Thursday, Fishbein relayed that a deep roster and a finite number of minutes to divide isn’t making everybody on his team happy.

“Competition amongst the team is fierce and training sessions aren’t always friendly. Both good and bad. Top players aren’t seeing the field and as a coach, impossible to keep everyone happy,” Fishbein wrote. “As I told the boys after (Sunday’s 2-1 win over UC Irvine), it’s hard to really enjoy a victory when players you care about aren’t happy. Our challenge is for everyone to find ways to make us better and to embrace this responsibility. Not everyone will see game minutes, but everyone plays a significant role in our success.”

Herrera, a junior from Las Cruces who played in high school in Casa Grande, Ariz., had a goal and two assists last weekend in the wins over Cal State Northridge and UCI. Senior goalkeeper Jason Beaulieu was tournament defensive MVP.

New Mexico is 12-0-2 at home since losing to Charlotte on Oct. 27, 2015. The Lobos have won four consecutive matches since the winless in Seattle weekend (losses to Washington and Seattle).

In turn, Kentucky, in its first road match of the season, figures to be the sternest test so far. Led by reigning C-USA Offensive Player of the Week Mikkel Pederson, the Wildcats have the advantage of a leg up in league play, having defeated UAB.