The CSUN men’s soccer team lost 4-0 to No. 28 New Mexico at Matador Soccer Field on Thursday in a non-conference match.

The Matadors took seven shots during the game, but were unable to put any of those shots into the goal.

New Mexico took ten shots in the game, but the Lobos were able to convert those shots to goals. Head coach Terry Davila said the Lobos were more controlled and showed more quality in their offense, while the Matadors didn’t show an “intent to go forward.”

“Our passes forward weren’t as quality as they could have been,” said Davila. “We’ve gotta receive the ball up front and show a little more quality up front.”

Although only three shots separated the two teams, Davila said the Lobos shots were better.

“Our offense was a little bit wild,” said Davila. “We weren’t sharp and precise. We were hesitant on passing.”

New Mexico scored in the 11th minute of the game when junior midfielder Chris Wright put a shot past CSUN junior goalkeeper Kevin Guppy. Wright’s goal was his first of the season and was assisted by senior midfielder Diego Barrera.

The Lobos struck again just 11 seconds before the end of the half with a goal by sophomore forward P.J. Wilson off a throw-in. Wilson bicycle-kicked the ball from inside the box, past Guppy.

Davila pointed to that goal as a defining moment in the game.

“The play that killed us was the goal off the throw in at the end of the first half,” Davila said. “That was the game.”

The Matadors came out with a stronger offensive effort in the second half, taking six of their seven shots after the halfway mark. Several shots came close, but none made it into the back of the net.

Junior forward Moy Gomez sent a header wide in the 52nd minute and freshman midfielder Rafael Garcia took a shot two minutes later, but that also went wide. Sophomore forward Sunghyun Kim also sent two shots wide.

In the 76th minute New Mexico sophomore midfielder Justin Davis made a break for the goal, but Guppy came out and made the save. Senior defender Matt Tracy received a red card on the play, however, and the Lobos were awarded a penalty kick. New Mexico sophomore defender Simon Ejdemyr took the shot and although Guppy got fingers on the ball, he couldn’t stop it and the Lobos went up 3-0.

The final blow came in the 87th minute after freshman James Urbany stole the ball from CSUN junior defender Bo Miller and buried a low shot past Guppy for a final score of 4-0.

Guppy made four saves in the game, while New Mexico senior goalkeeper Mike Graczyk made one save and got the shutout.

The loss drops the Matadors to 3-2-1, while New Mexico improves to 4-3-0 for the season.

Next up for CSUN is the fifth-ranked UCLA Bruins.

“UCLA will be tough,” said Davila.

Senior defender Sean Franklin, who has been out with a broken arm, could be back in the lineup for that game, said Davila.

“He gives us quality,” he said.

The game against UCLA is on Saturday, Sept. 29 at 4 p.m. at Matador Soccer Field.

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