Lobos’ scoring woes continue in 0-0 tie

Apparently, the University of New Mexico men’s soccer team did not learn too much from its most recent outing, instead repeating the performance again Saturday.

For the second straight game, the Lobos slogged through to a scoreless draw, this time against Conference USA opponent Charlotte.

“We had some chances, they had comes chances,” UNM coach Jeremy Fishbein said. “It was two teams fighting late in the season. We’re kind of both in the same spot.”

Where they both are right now is jockeying for position in the upcoming conference tournament, which essentially will be a do-or-die situation to earn an NCAA Tournament berth.

“We’re setting up good, but this is not where you wanted to

be exactly,” Fishbein said.

“You wanted to be in a situation where you locked things up. And we’re two results way from being there. Now we have to be really good. There’s no margin for error.”

The Lobos (8-4-4, 3-2-2) are in the midst of a scoring drought with just one goal during a fourgame winless streak with three ties and a loss.

“we’ve been good. We’ve been pretty good every game,” Fishbein said. “That’s kind of been our Achilles’ heel is taking chances and finishing. It’s going to have to happen down at the stretch if we want to keep advancing. It’s kind of where it’s been the last couple of years.”

Not coincidently, New Mexico has been without senior forward Sam Gleadle, who missed four games with a knee injury before returning Saturday to log 97 minutes.

“He’s a threat; he causes problems,” Fishbein said.

“He’s good on the ball. He didn’t find the net (Saturday), but he had a couple of chances. Not great chances. He’s a dangerous player.”

Having Gleadle gives New Mexico a proven finisher to target.

“What it does, it really stretches the other team and there’s a little more pockets to play in,” Fishbein said.

“It allows you to be a little more dynamic and mix it up in the attack. He was out four games, but I thought he was really good today.”

Defender Tom Smart also played the full 110 minutes in his second game back from a hamstring issue. And Nick Barreiro has settled in right back, which has allowed Fishbein to move top defender Aaron Herrera into the midfield to become more involved in the offense.

“I think we’re going to be really good down the stretch here,” Fishbein said. “We’re getting our difference makers onto the field. “

“I think Nick Barreiro is doing a great job at right back. And it kind of allows us to push Aaron up a little higher. We’ve been real happy with that combination. Does that mean this is Aaron’s best position is higher up? That’s not the point. As a tandem and as team, how can we can be most effective and we feel right now, that’s how we can do it. They’re guys who complement each other.”

UNM is fourth in the league standings with one more game to play, Friday at Old Dominion. The top seven teams in the league advance to the postseason tournament that begins Nov. 8.