New Mexico is coming off a 1-0 overtime win at CS Northridge, where Chris Wehan found the back of the net on a penalty kick in the 96th minute. The win was the Lobos first shutout of the season, as they got great play out of their defense, and the two teams played on even terms most of the game. The Lobos need to build off this defensive effort tonight when they face a nationally-ranked LMU team. This LMU team has started out their season the best possible way, going 5-0-0 over their first 5 matches and out-scoring their opposition 8-2. Both of those two goals were allowed on Friday in their 3-2 win at CSU Bakersfield.
This should be a very interesting match, as you have two nationally-ranked teams that have a lot of talent, one team that has had numerous players score goals for them in LMU, and a New Mexico side that has one player who has scored all five of their goals. It will be imperative for the Lobos to find someone else that can find the back of the net this match. Wehan has been on a roll these last three matches, but you can’t have just one goal-scorer if you’re going to be a top-tier team. This match may be decided in the first half, as New Mexico has yet to score in the first half, while LMU has scored three first-half goals in their first 5 matches. If New Mexico is able to play on even terms, or get an early goal, it will allow the Lobos to be the team that forces the pressure.
Players to Watch: The player to watch for the Lobos is Niko Hansen. He played well against CS Northridge, but still hasn’t been able to put one in yet. He was the player that was taken down in the box to set up the penalty kick for Wehan in overtime, which happened in a play where he created a good opportunity for himself to score. In my opinion, the Lobos won’t be able to be a top team in the country if Hansen doesn’t come up and start scoring goals for the Lobos. In this game, Hansen should be able to use the focus that LMU will put towards stopping Wehan to his advantage and create scoring opportunities for himself and others. If New Mexico wants to come out of this game with a win, Hansen needs to find away to get an assist or a goal.
LMU is a very interesting team to look at because they don’t focus their attack into one player or one direction. In their eight goals this season, they have five players that have scored at least one goal and have had nine players with at least one assist. The two players with more than one goal on the season are their two forwards, Grant Sampson (3 g, 1 a) and Alvaro Madrigal (2 g, 2 a). It is important for the Lobos backline to stay if formation and stick to assignments. If they don’t it could be a long day for the Lobos.
Predictions: This is a game that I don’t have a good feel for, as I think this game can go so many ways with many different outcomes. I would put the odds of the Lobos coming home with a win at 40% and coming home with a draw at 65%. I expect there to be a lot more action in this game than the CS Northridge game, with both teams trying to play an attacking style. I predict a 2-2 draw for this game with a non-Wehan Lobo scoring at least one goal.
Game Info:
UNM (2-1-1) vs. LMU (5-0-0)
In Los Angeles, California
At Sullivan Field
Game Time: 5 PM MT
Stream: TheW.tv