Friday Night is Senior Night and the final home match of the 2015 Lobo Men’s Soccer season. This also has ended up being a match that will decide whether or not the Lobos will make the Conference USA Tournament. It is real simple for the Lobos: win and you’re in, so their fate is completely in their hands. FAU right now is in last place in the conference, but they have plenty to play for, as if they win they also have a shot to make the tournament. I believe that we will see the good Lobos side tonight, which should equate to a comfortable win. The Lobos must start of this match with energy and find a first half goal to set the tone for the game, something they’ve only done in two matches this season.
Things to Look For:
LOBOS:
- Outscoring opponents 19 to 17
- Outscored in the first half 9 to 4
- Outscoring opponents in the second half 15 to 8
- Have been outshot by opponents 236 to 207, on average 1.9 fewer shots per match
- Six Lobos have scored a goal
- Three Lobos have scored multiple goals
- Chris Wehan leads the Lobos with 10 goals
- Have only scored in two first halves
- Have yet to score in both halves of a match
- Jason Beaulieu has a .99 Goals Allowed Average, with three shutouts
OWLS:
- Have been outscored by opponents 31 to 9
- Have been outscored by opponents in the first half 8 to 1
- Have been outscored by opponents in the second half 23 to 8
- Have been outshot by opponents 195 to 110, on average 5.7 fewer shots per match
- Five Owls have scored a goal
- Three Owls have scored multiple goals
- Thomas Gallitz leads the Owls with 3 goals
- The Owls have used two goalkeepers with each goalie appearing in 8 matches
Players to Watch:
LOBOS:
For this match, I am watching to see how well Niko Hansen plays. Hansen has been stuck on two goals for a long time and the Lobos need to get him going if they want to make the NCAA Tournament. I expect Hansen to have a good match and score a goal, helping the Lobos secure a spot in the CUSA tournament.
PANTHERS:
Whichever goalie the Owls use is the player that I will be watching. For the Owls to have any shot in this match the goalie must have a great match. The Owls have given up 31 goals this season, which is more than two goals allowed a match. They can’t give up that many goals and expect a result in this match.
Prediction:
The Lobos backs are against the wall and they desperately need a win. Thankfully, they are facing a team that, on paper, they are way better than. The Lobos need to take care of business early and often in this match and send Seniors Josh Dye and Adrian Mora Delgado out on a winning note for their last game at UNM Soccer Complex. I put the odds of the Lobos winning this match at 75% and this match ending in a draw at 24%. I will not give FAU a zero percent chance of winning this match, but I just don’t see how they pull out a victory. I predict a final score of 3-0 with a first half goal and two second half goals, with Hansen, Wehan, and Gleadle scoring the goals. It should be a great celebration for the seniors on Senior Night!
Game Info:
Who: New Mexico (7-5-4; 1-4-2) VS FAU (2-11-2; 1-6-0)
Where: UNM Soccer Complex Albuquerque NM
When: Friday, November 6th at 7pm MT
Stream: Campusinsiders.com