It was a most eventful night to be at the UNM Soccer Complex for the match featuring the Lobos and the Crusaders, and that was even before the game actually began. The match started 40 plus minutes late, as the west sidelights were unable to turn on. The Crusaders and the Lobos eventually agreed to start the match with just the one bank of lights and it didn’t take long for the Lobos to get on the board, when Sam Gleadle found Chris Wehan in the first minute for a goal that gave the Lobos an early 1-0 lead. The goal was Wehan’s ninth goal of the season and marked only the second match this season in which the Lobos scored in the first half. The rest of the first half didn’t have much excitement, with most of the Crusaders shots coming from way out side the 18 yard box and the only other great chance for the Lobos was when Niko Hansen hit the post in his chance to give the Lobos a 2-0 lead.
At half time, all the lights came on and the Crusaders play picked up, having the Lobos playing on their heels for most of the second half. It appeared that the Lobos were going to be able to hold on to the 1-0 win, but Isaiah Madrid had different ideas in his homecoming match. Madrid led to many Crusaders chances but wasn’t able to find the equalizer for himself. However, in the 86th minute Madrid sent a beautiful cross into the box that found the head of Matthew Gweh to beat Jason Beaulieu for the game-tying goal, sending the match into overtime. The play in overtime was dictated by the Crusaders, who had a few great chances. The best of their chances came in the form of a low shot headed for the low left post, but Beaulieu made a brilliant save to keep the match tied at 1-1. That was really the last great chance of the match, leaving the two teams locked in a 1-1 draw, putting UNM at 6-4-2 on the season and Valparaiso at 6-3-3.
Match Stats
Shots: 30 to 11, Valparaiso
Shots on Goal: 7 to 3, Valparaiso
Saves: 6 to 2, New Mexico
Corner Kicks: 9 to 7, Valparaiso
Man of the Match: Jason Beauliue, New Mexico and Isaiah Madrid, Valparaiso
Up Next
The Lobos return to Conference USA action Sunday night at UNM Soccer Complex at 6 PM. This should be a very exciting match against a good team in UAB, and a key game for New Mexico’s season, so let’s make the UNM Soccer Complex the best atmosphere in college soccer.