I guess it's about that time. Gearing back up to follow the boys this fall. They get started with exhibition matches at home against Grand Canyon and Tulsa on the 18th and 20th before starting the season with Towson on 26th also at home Here's the full schedule: http://www.golobos.com/sports/m-soccer/sched/nm-m-soccer-sched.html
2011 Lobos are a mix of seasoned and new players. Hard to predict with any certainty how they will do in MPSF action or overall. Unfortunately I was unable to see any of them this spring so the two upcoming exhibition matches will be a reintroduction for me. Based on review of the current 23 man roster here are my observations: Their is strength in the spine with quality returnees (GK) Victor Rodriguez, (D) Kyle Venter, (MF) Lance Rozeboom and (F) Michael Green. Other top returnees that need to impact the program this year include (D) Travis Campbell, (M) Patrick Pacheco, (M/F) Blake Smith, (M/F) Levi Rossi, (M/F) Lawrence Robleo, (F) Devon Sandoval and (F) Michael Kafari. From the outside looking in very little is certain at the back in terms of who will round out the 4 man defense. There are a couple promising looking freshmen and versatile returnees that may find time on the pitch by staking themselves back there. Midfield should continue to be a Lobos strength on both sides of the ball with good creativity through neutral positions into the attacking third. Goals will need to come by committee again this year although I wouldn't be surprised if one or two of the front-runners has an eight plus goal year. The quality is there. Really looking forward to seeing what red shirt freshman Giovanni Rollie brings to the team. Fishbein was very high on him this time last summer but was unable to use him in 2010. Roster: http://www.golobos.com/sports/m-soccer/mtt/nm-m-soccer-mtt.html
Good to see Lance Roseboom listed on top drawer soccer's 100 senior prospects list. Excellent two way central midfielder. Expect he'll get an opportunity at the next level. Disappointed but not surprised to see Michael Green not listed. He just hasn't put up big numbers in his three years here. Still love his game and hope he has a breakout year. He's got great skills and is fun to watch. Every opposing team knows they have to account for him to deal with the Lobos. On that note I'll say Green is the key to a successful season this year (as in 12 wins and 3rd round or better).
Tolstoy Let the fun begin! Lance is the prototypical, big, strong type of player that the MLS seems to appreciate all too much. Good luck to him. I am not overly impressed with his skill level or field smarts, but we are talking about the MLS. His workrate and attitude are excellent. I am sure he'll get a look or two. Fish should be able to help him at least get in front of MLS coaches You won't like this, but Green has been subdued by the coaching staff. They have essentially dumbed him down. I remember him when he first got there. He was electric. He is not the same player. Just my 2 cents. Sad really! I am cautiously optimistic as usual, but I am very skeptical until I see results.
Bit of news out of Lobo Camp: - Nicklas Savvolineon from Sweden is not on the roster - Adrian Mora Delgado (Costa Rica) and Matt Gibbons (New Zealand) are Update 24 man roster is here http://www.golobos.com/sports/m-soccer/mtt/nm-m-soccer-mtt.html Rounding out the coaching staff are Matt Armstrong - Student Coach and Savva Biller - Volunteer/Goalkeeper Coach Less than a week to the 1st home exhibition match
Lobos tied for 2nd (with Denver) in coaches' poll. Bakersfield chosen to win http://www.golobos.com/sports/m-soccer/spec-rel/081511aad.html
this article answers some of the questions I posted earlier from the program's perspective http://www.golobos.com/sports/m-soccer/spec-rel/081711aaa.html 1st chance to see for myself is tomorrow night
Lobos with a tidy 2-0 win last night against DII Grand Canyon in first exhibition match on goals from Blake Smith and Lawrence Robledo. Write up and stats here http://www.golobos.com/sports/m-soccer/recaps/081811aaa.html I'll post my thoughts a bit later but for now, yup, very good reason for optimism this year
here's Fishbein's take on last night in Fishblog http://www.golobos.com/sports/m-soccer/spec-rel/081911aaa.html Busy day so far, I'll get my thoughts up at some point...
Looking forward to your thoughts on the game and players. An A,B,C,D hopefully no F's would be nice for each player!
What I saw last night -21 of 24 players on roster got minutes (freshmen Dye, Berg and Lane DNP). Everyone that played belongs and contributes. Fish has a LOT of depth and that depth is flexible. First eleven (as in those that started the game) listed in a 4-4-2 for ease (it morphs): Sandoval - Rogers Gomez - Rozeboom - Green - Smith Gibbons - Campbell - Venter - Rossi Rodriguez 1st half subs: Baldinger for Sandoval Rollie for Rossi Robledo for Smith 2nd half beginning eleven: Baldinger - Smith Pacheco - Kafari - Mora-Delgado - Robledo Gibbons - Miele - Venter - Rollie Poblete 2nd half subs: Riley for Rollie Phillips for Gibbons Sandoval & Rogers for Baldinger & Smith - Both goals came in second half (Smith & Robledo) both well delivered and well taken - Right from the off I see why everyone is so high on the freshman, Rogers. He brings a creative dynamic up front we haven't seen in awhile and he is going to give teams fits, especially combined with big, holding forward like Sandoval with Green and Rozeboom directly behind and dangerous wing play. - Not sure Gomez is 1st team player yet but it was 1st game for red-shirt freshman and not sure lineups reflect decisions yet. My money is on Pacheco when the games matter, at least at the beginning - Green and Rozeboom were Green and Rozeboom. It's their team now. Love those two. Interestingly we learned that sophomore Michael Kafari has been converted to central midfield. he played the entire 2nd half and added some wow factor. He was paired with Mora-Delgado (the freshman from Costa Rica). Nice player, great ball winner and clearly understands how to play the game - Defense was a question mark for me going in but seeing Venter and Campbell work together in the center was good. Rossi as right back is fine with me. He's tough as nails and has good ball skills. Gibbons (the New Zealander) is sweet at left back. Kid knows EXACTLY what he's doing. Really liked what I saw from him. Gio Rollie played right back and acquitted himself well - Victor Rodriguez (a redshirt Junior) in goal was comfortable (as I have always been with him). This is the first settled year at that position since the Mike Graczyk years. That's a plus in terms of stability Summary: I left excited and replaying what I saw all day today I still am. It was one exhibition game against a DII team. Repeat (to self) it was one exhibition game against a DII team. Tulsa is here tomorrow so we get to see the next installment against a top notch club right away. Long haul, there is quality in every guy on the squad (haven't even seen Dye & Berg - knocks). Fishbein has tough tough tough decisions to make on playing time and lineups to maximize this talent. More Saturday/Sunday. Go Lobos!
Thanks for the analysis! Really will be nice to see Lance Rozeboom and Michael Green in the middle of the park. Let us all know how the game goes tonight. Go Lobos!
you bet. i'll live tweet it from @tolstoyabq if you want to follow along http://twitter.com/#!/tolstoyabq
Just back from Lobos 3-1 win over Tulsa. Everything clicked right from the outset and Lobos were up 3-0 in first 20 minutes on goals from Robledo Rozeboom (PK) and Smith. I'll have more tomorrow including what appears a strategic shift based on personnel and depth. Here's the box/stats http://www.golobos.com/sports/m-soccer/stats/2011-2012/tls-nm.html
First eleven last night: Sandoval - Rozeboom Smith - Green - Kafari - Robledo Gibbons - Venter - Campbell - Rossi Rodriguez Same back four. Changes from Thursday were Robledo for Gomez and Kafari for Rogers. Smith slid left, Kafari to central MF and Rozeboom up top. The last thing point is the big news and it paid dividends right from the off. Lance's pace and hustle along with Sandoval, Smith and Robledo provided high pressure and early chances along with the 3 goals. Tulsa was a bit shell shocked. Green is further back in the central MF defending, holding and distributing for the most part. Kafari is still a work in progress and was subbed for Mora-Delgado who had another nice run out before coming off with what looked like hip or lower back problem. When Rogers came on for Green he went up top and Lance slotted back to his traditional spot. I like the team. Like the depth and options (style and arrangement) that Fish has. It'll be interesting to see what the real season 1st eleven is next Friday night against Towson after a week of practice. No sign of freshmen Dye & Berg must be a bit more than knocks Tulsa is pretty good, they'll win a lot of games this year
Just back from Lobos 2-0 win over Towson on goals from Gio Rollie and Lawrence Robledo, one in each half. Thoughts tomorrow but they'll need to be sharper against better opponents than Towson. Good first game win at home for now
Here's the article from the university site Stevens: Fishbein's Lobos Blank Towson 2-0 UNM gets game-winner from Giovanni Rollie, who came off the bench to score with 1:17 to play in first half http://www.golobos.com/sports/m-soccer/recaps/082711aaa.html
Sounds like the Lobos are off to a solid start.. Maybe they simply prefer the underdog status. Really enjoying your updates, Tolstoy. I appreciate the insight.
Curious on this question and i've posted this question before but do you guys see Coach JF getting this program to the cup again. After their run to the cup final in 2005, program has seemed to level out (to an outsider). Other Lobo followers have answered my question that JF lost a couple of highly regarded assistants (now head coaches) right after that 2005 and the program has not recovered. Do u agree - Thoughts..?
Very busy this weekend so just getting to my thoughts/observations on Friday night 2-0 win over Towson. Box score: http://www.golobos.com/sports/m-soccer/stats/2011-2012/tow-nm.html First off Towson was not good. Lobos had a lot to do with that but too much should not be made of this season opening win. Starting line-up listed in 4-2-3-1 because it took that shape in my view: Sandoval Smith - Rozeboom - Robledo Kafari - Green Gibbons - Campbell - Venter - Rossi Rodriguez The Kafari/Green pairing in the center pushing Rozeboom up top for the first 25-30 minutes was used again. Didn't produce goals this time but appeared to wear Towson out leaving them ripe for the fresh legs of Baldinger (for Sandoval) then Rollie (Robledo) and Rogers (Kafari). Rozeboom dropped to pair with Green as before. The first half goal was started by Green who beat his man at the top of the circle and slickly slotted Rogers to the byline who completed a sliding pass across the goalmouth to onrushing Rollie to tap in. Second half starting line-up Baldinger Rogers - Rozeboom - Rollie Green - Kafari Gibbons - Venter - Campbell - Rossi Rodriguez Though the Lobos controlled the first part of the second half they were kind of sloppy and created only a couple half chances. Smith replaced Rozeboom and then Robledo for Rogers and Sandoval for Baldinger. There was a stretch of about 5 minutes in the middle of the half where the Lobos were struggling to gain and retain possession and poise (I was having some nervous flashbacks as we've seen this tape before). Eventually Sandoval's hard work paid off as he took a ball with his back to goal about 35 yards out and rounded his man and was fouled at the top of the box as he worked to set up his shot. Robledo scored on the ensuing free kick with a low hard shot just inside the keeper's left post. Keeper either mis-set his wall or the wall flinched or both. Either way that was the insurance goal and the Lobos secured the final 10 minutes for the win. Defense had almost nothing to do Friday night as Towson didn't have the skill or athleticism to really threaten. Victor Rodriguez did have one very important difficult save in the second half on a low shot from distance that was partially screened. He got down quickly to his right and snagged it without giving up a rebound. In past years that shot goes in and despite dominating a team the Lobos end up with a disappointing draw. Don't want to be too critical. It was a good win and starts the season off well after they've been chomping at the bit to get going. I was really happy to see Gio Rollie play and contribute in midfield after spending time at back in the two exhibition games. Pacheco was among the DNPs. Only 2168 in attendance (AAA baseball and Volleyball Tournament competing). Roadtrip this weekend at Cal Poly and Santa Clara
That team was special. Think that Lobo Soccer is a top 20 program because Fish has a specific set of principles that he's applied over the long haul. He is consistent in what he preaches, in how he recruits and what the program offers guys. It is nice to see that Fish has gotten back to pulling in almost all of the best local players Right now Brandon Moss, who was part of the 2005 team, is in his second year as assistance coach and you can see his influence
MPSF Schools went 5-3 this weekend. Results: New Mexico 2, Towson 0 San Jose State 4, Fresno Pacific 1 Sacramento State 1, Loyola Marymount 0 Air Force 5, Houston Baptist 2 Cal Poly 1, UNLV 0 Creighton 1, Denver 0 CSU Bakersfield 5, UC Riverside 1 UC Santa Barbara 3, Seattle 1
highlights from Friday night. goals at 1:25 and 2:43 [ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iKibKFWxDTg"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iKibKFWxDTg[/ame]
New Mexico with a convincing 2-0 win at Santa Clara tonight. Freshman playmaker James Rogers scored a nice left-footed winner and looks like a big addition to that program.