Lobos’ home season ends with a disappointing tie
Game against Marshall could be last ever at home for team
Saturday’s home finale at the UNM Stadium in front of 1,556 maudlin fans must have felt like being an active part of one’s own memorial service for New Mexico men’s soccer.
“I think there’ll be soccer here next year,” New Mexico Coach Jeremy Fishbein said. “Soccer’s a progressive sport and that’s what the state wants. I see how impactful we are. People are passionate for excellence.”
But if this was the final home game for the program the Lobos penned a deflating eulogy. New Mexico (4-101, 2-4-1) tied Marshall (5-8-3, 1-3-2) 2-2 by allowing the tying goal in the final minute.
“Disappointing result, the problem is we get complacent finishing games,” senior Matt Dorsey
The pit and the pendulum has never been closer after the Board of Regents voted to eliminate the program. A road date with Conference USA opponent Charlotte next Saturday is the only guaranteed game left. The Lobos sit in sixh place, in good position for one of the seven available places in the Conference USA tournament.
“It’s been a crazy season, emotional, mistakes, it’s hard to factor in emotions,” Fishbein said. “We’re focused on our season, focused on our guys. My focus is on this team. We got incredible supporters, people really attached to this team.”
Pregame, Marshall showed its solidarity with New Mexico during player announcements and the national anthem.
“Their coach is a class act. Chriss
Grassie asked us as a sign of solidarity,” Fishbein said. “That’s kind of been the outpouring from every college program across the country.”
Starters linked arms alternating home and away to the left of the officiating crew. Marshall reserves and coaches joined their opposite numbers in the New Mexico technical area.
“Their coaches wanted to give a sense of uniformity and support of what we’re going through,” Dorsey said. “No program is really safe if a program as established as ours is out.”
On Saturday, New Mexico pressure prohibited Marshall from building possession out of the back, instead forcing the visitors to lump speculative balls forward to start an attack. New Mexico’s possession advantage dissipated as the game got stretched.
The Lobos struck first in the 27th minute through Nick Taylor. The sophomore thundered Matt Dorsey’s layoff past Marshall goalkeeper Paulo Pita from 30 yards out. Dorsey finished it himself three minutes later, pouncing on a through ball with a flick past the advancing Pita.
“There’s been a lot of pressure on us this season and maybe that’s affected our results a little bit,” Taylor said. “The transfer portal just came up for most of the guys who aren’t graduating. I haven’t responded to any emails.”
Careless New Mexico defending gifted Marshall an answer in the 51st minute. Gianni Bouzoukis pounced on an errant pass and fired home to halve the Lobo lead. New Mexico had a few opportunities to secure the win with a third goal, but was unable to find the finishing touch, squandering a few good looks at goal.
The Thundering Herd equalized off an 89th-minute free kick from Jonas Westmeyer a few yards beyond the Lobo penalty area.
The Lobos came closest to the goal in the extra time with freshman Omar Grey’s dipping effort just over the crossbar and senior Antoine Vial singeing side netting.