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UNM Tops Oakland 1-0

Lobos defeat Evansville, 3-2 too.

Sept. 23, 2002

EVANSVILLE, Ind. - The University of New Mexico women's soccer team defeated Oakland by a score of 1-0 in the first match of the ProRehab Aces Soccer Classic. The Lobos were able to carry over their winning momentum from the 2-1 defeat of Texas Tech on Sept. 19 which leaves their record at 4-3-0. Junior midefielder Erchen Theys (Langdorp, Belgium) notched the only Lobo goal in the 43rd minute to secure the win and give New Mexico the best start to its season since 1997 when the Lobos achieved a 6-1 record.

Right from the whistle, UNM was able to adapt to Oakland¹s direct style of play, controlling the continuous service of long balls into its defensive third. The Lobos were able to keep Golden Grizzly shooting to a minimum throughout the game, only allowing one shot on goal and seven shots in total.

On the other end of the field, Oakland stuggled to keep the Lobo attack under wraps, condeding ten shots, three of which were between the pipes. With two minutes left in the first half, Erchen Theys served up a long ball from almost 20 yards out that was intended to be a cross, but instead found the back of the Oakland net. The tally is Theys¹ third of the year and brings her withinone point of current leader Marte Dolva who has seven.

Although only having to make one save in the game, goalkeeper Kristen Winters (Lakewood, Colo.) was kept on her toes organizing and directing a young New Mexico defensive unit, who kept opponent shots-on-goal to the fewest so far this season.

Head coach Kit Vela deemed the game a defensive success from start to finish.

³This was our most complete game defensively. Clare Pollock played great at sweeper. Marissa McBride was solid in the stopper position and outside backs, Eryn Paetz and Deidre Devault were composed and strong,² said Vela.

The Lobos will look to go 2-0 on the weekend in the finale of the ProRehab Aces Soccer Classic on Saturday, Sept. 21 when they face host team Evansville at 2 p.m.

UNM Defeats Evansville 3-2

EVANSVILLE, Ind. - The University of New Mexico women's soccer team defeated Evansville today by a score of 3-2. The Lobos went a perfect 2-0 this weekend with victories over 2001 NCAA Tournament teams Oakland and Evansville.

UE got on the board in the first minute of play off an Ashley Sandefur goal, but UNM returned fire before the half was over. In the 38th minute junior transfer Abbie Partch (Albuquerque, N.M.) sent a long ball over the head of the Purple Ace defense which was collected by Laura Hafner (Katy, Texas). Hafner was able to get in close and score the first Lobo goal.

The remainder of the first half was scoreless as UNM stifled much of the UE offense and maintained stability on defense, thanks in part to anchor Clare Pollock (West Vancouver, B.C.) who oversaw the young UNM marking backs Eryn Paetz (San Pedro, Calif.) and Kelli Rendell (Centennial, Colo.) as well as stopper Marissa McBride (Denver, Colo.).

Eight minutes into the second half, Marte Dolva (Geilo, Norway) was up to her usual tricks. The junior forward was able to dribble past a series of UE defenders and slip the ball past Evansville keeper Katie Howard to make the score 2-1 in Lobo favor. UNM midfielder Erchen Theys (Langdorp, Belgium) posted the final mark of the game at the 72:04 mark after a combination with LeAnne Hendren and Abbie Partch reached her foot. Theys rifled a 25-yard left-footed shot that was destined for net.

Evansville would register the final goal of the game in the 82nd minute on a counter-attack play. Tracye Burch picked up the two points and Kelly D'Amico recorded the UE assist.

The Lobos finished the tournament in second place behind Kansas on the basis of goal differential (Kansas +3 and UNM +2). Erchen Theys was deemed the ProRehab Aces Soccer Classic Offensive MVP with her two-goal performance. All-Tournament representation from New Mexico included sophomore midfielder Rachael Addison (Tyler, Texas), junior midfielder Erchen Theys, and junior midfielder Abbie Partch (Albuquerque, N.M.).

"It was a hard-fought game, " said head coach Kit Vela. "Evansville is an experienced team with players who have a number of wins under their belts."

"We had a complete team effort tonight. A number of our players had fantastic games and yet again our defense was solid, " said Vela.

The Lobos improved to 5-3-0 while Evansville dropped to 1-5-1. Next up, the Lobos travel to Alabama for a pair of games against No. 10 Auburn on Sept. 27 and Troy State on Sept. 29.