Spring key for Lobo women
Exhibition matches set for Saturday
Preseason in the fall comes fast and furious for women’s college soccer teams, which means the spring portion looms large.
“It’s a tricky balance,” UNM coach Heather Dyche said. “As a fall sport, we only get two weeks prior to the season. You lose eight players, then don’t get your freshmen until the beginning of fall.
“We’re making sure the players who are here are developing and understanding the system. Spring is about individual development and team tactics.”
Dyche is pleased with what she is seeing so far, which is good because she has a number of key players to replace.
Lindsey Guice and Madisyn Olguin led UNM in points last season as seniors. Another senior, Dylann O’Conner, had started since she was a freshman. Also gone is goalkeeper Cassie Ulrich, who guarded the posts the past three seasons.
“We’re really looking for offensive firepower, where the goals are going to come from,” the coach said. “Really, across the board, we’re looking for players to step up and fill the shoes of some pretty important players.”
Returners include Volcano Vista’s Claire Lynch (five goals last season), Quincy Slora (three goals, three assists), Maddie Irwin (three goals) and Albuquerque High’s Isabella Jimenez, who played 18 games at defender as a freshman.
“We still have a strong roster,” Dyche said. “But there are some opportunities. It’s a four-month tryout. The environment is good.”
UNM will have a preseason exhibition Saturday at the UNM Soccer Complex beginning at 2 p.m.
The Lobos will play three 45-minute matches each against UTEP, Air Force and West Texas A&M. Dyche said she will use the games to look at different players and test different formations.
HELPING HAND: Dyche has added former Eldorado High coach Paul Maestas to her staff. They were classmates at Eldorado in the 1990s.
“I’ve known Paul for a long time,” Dyche said. “I admire the way he builds teams and puts players first. He’s a teacher. He’s already been an impact.”
CAMPS: The UNM women will hold a College ID camp July 15-17, with 15 or 20 college programs from various levels in attendance. Its youth day camp will be July 25-28. Go to nmsoccercamps.com for more information.
UNM MEN: The Lobos will be in Denver on Saturday to take on Creighton and Colorado Mines.
Last week, UNM beat Utah Valley 1-0 and UNLV 4-2 in Las Vegas, Nev. Niko Hansen had goals in both matches.
… Former UNM goalkeeper Patrick Poblete is the program’s new director of operations.
… Defender Aaron Herrera played for the U.S. U-20 team in the Dallas Cup last month. He was voted “man of the match” in a 3-3 draw against TSG 1889 of Germany.
… Sixteen red cards were handed out through the first 42 games of the MLS season. Former Lobo Oniel Fisher, playing for the Seattle Sounders, received one of them.
… Ex-Lobo Devon Sandoval has played 47 minutes over three games for Real Salt Lake this season.
… Former Lobo defender Nick Miele was honored with the Seattle Sounders FC2 2015 Goal of the Year. He received more than 40 percent of the fan vote for his match-winner against Austin Aztex last year.