Friday Night at the UNM Soccer Complex will give the term “Doubleheader” a new meaning, as both the Lobo Women’s and Men’s Soccer teams have their home openers. After a summer filled with emotion around the UNM Athletic Department (including Men’s Soccer), I can’t think of a better way to kick off the 2018-2019 season for Lobo Athletics. It should be a great night for soccer and should be two great matches. There may be other things that you are considering to do, but I believe that the UNM Soccer Complex is the place to be.
Here are 10 reasons why you should make it to the matches on Friday:
1. Lobo Sports Are Back!
The last official Lobo Sporting event was a few months ago when UNM had a few track athletes competing for National Championships in Oregon. For people who love Lobo Sports, the months of June and July can take a long time to pass. With it being the first matches/games of the school year, it gets you back in the college sports mood. Every first match/game of a school year is a very special day and event, so Friday is doubly so.
2. Two For One!
Unless you have a Lobo Pride Pass (which you absolutely should get), there are very few opportunities to see two Lobo Sporting Events the same day for the price of one. While the price of admission isn’t crazy for UNM Soccer, it is always a good deal. Even with the price of parking (due to the Isotopes game), you are still going to get a great deal.
3. Flip Throws!
One of the most exciting things for a casual soccer fan is seeing a player do a flip throw-in. Lobo Women’s Soccer has a player in Jessica Nelson who is very, very good at flip throw-ins and setting up the Lobo attack off these throws. Get your popcorn ready and watch some acrobatics break out in the middle of your soccer match!
4. The Legend of Ford Parker
The folk hero and legend Ford Parker will be getting his first start between the pipes for the Lobos. Parker reached legendary status during the Lobos’ run to the NCAA Tournament two years ago, thanks to his heroics in shootouts. Parker is a local kid that will look to lead the Lobos to a good season and has the chops to do it.
5. Jessie Hix
Jessie Hix is coming off a fantastic sophomore season in which she was named All-MW. This season, she will look to leave an even bigger impact on the team, conference, and country. Hix, who is a very talented player from Eldorado High School, will control the center of the pitch and her ability to find attacking positions will be key to the Lobos this season. Bonus: A Jessica Nelson flip throw-in leading to a Hix header for a goal is always on the table.
6. New Lobos!
While it is always emotional when players leave UNM for different reasons, there are always new faces that will give you new memories and new favorites. Both programs will have plenty of new faces to learn and being able to watch them play their first matches in a Lobo uniform is a great way to start.
7. A Ranked Opponent!
Lobo Men’s Soccer will be taking on two ranked teams from Seattle this weekend, which historically has brought out the best from the Lobos. This could be a great start for the Lobos and it is always great to watch the Lobos playing that level of competition.
8. GOAL!!!
If my years of watching soccer have taught me anything, it’s that one of the greatest things in sports is a world-class goal. If you are there for the doubleheader, you have 180 minutes for a chance of an incredible goal that will have you smiling the rest of night. The Lobos have plenty of players on both squads that can bring you this joy.
9. Coach Fishbein!
After everything the Lobo Men’s Soccer Program has been through, Fish has been a rock for the program and has taken the high road at every turn. It is a great time to show your support for Fish and the program as they move through this tough situation.
10. The Wisdom of the Crowd
Both Programs were in the Top 40 in attendance in the NCAA last year and should remain there this year. This is a great chance for the Lobo faithful to show how much these programs mean to them. It would be awesome for there to be over 2,000 fans in the stands, and you should absolutely be one of them.
Doubleheader Info:
UNM Lobos (W) 0-1-0 vs. Pacific Tigers 0-2-0
UNM Lobos (M) vs. #24 Seattle Redhawks
UNM Soccer Complex, Albuquerque, NM
5 P.M. and 7 P.M. MST
golobos.com