Tech Miners Relegate Up in Soccer League

by coach Paul Fuierer

SOCORRO, N.M., May 2, 2002 -- The New Mexico Tech men's soccer team finished their season Sunday, April 28, with a win over "San Lorenzo", an Albuquerque men's club team. The Miners finish the 2001-2002 season with a winning13-4-0 record, which earned them second place in division 2 of the Albuquerque Soccer League (ASL). The Miners, along with three other top teams will be promoted to Division 1 for the 2002-2003 season.

Two weeks ago was the match of the season, when the 2nd place Miners met the first place "Dep Quetzal" at Milne Field in Albuquerque. A win for the Miners would mean taking the number one spot in the division. The game was a defensive battle, with a 0-0 score at halftime. Tremendous saves were made by the keepers at both ends of the field. For the Miners, it was Hahn Nguyen putting on an acrobatic show. At the start of the second half, the Miners appeared to take control of the game, as the DQ looked to be getting tired. But luck turned on the Miners when right-winger (freshman) Paul Dailey received his second yellow card of the game, and had to leave the field. That call left the Miners down a man for the remainder of the game, a disadvantage that was eventually to take its toll.

The referee clearly made a difference in this close match, blowing his whistle at trifling fouls, and handing out yellow cards as if they were candy. The Miners received a total of seven yellows, and DQ at least as many. Unfortunately, it was a Miner that ended up receiving the double. While dismayed at the call, the Miner defense managed to fend off several attacks by the quick DQ forwards. That is until the 89th minute of the game when, in a nightmarish moment, a DQ striker split two Miner defenders and ripped a shot past the diving Nguyen. The Miner men, along with their fans, stood staring in disbelief as the DQ celebrated their 1-0 victory.

The next Sunday, the Techies came roaring back to Milne Field, ready to finish the season on a positive note in front of several proud parents and fans. "San Lorenzo" (SL) was a formidable opponent, with some quick and skillful athletes. But the Miners proved to be the better team, stringing together a number of passes which lead to the first goal of the game by (senior) striker Randy Clark. The second goal came from (junior) left-winger Derek Lamppa, as he lobbed a volley over the head of the SL goalie.

Ten minutes into the second half, (junior) midfielder Maurizeo Leo felt it was time to prove his stuff, dribbling four SL defenders solo, and finishing the ball to the back of the net.

With a comfortable 3-0 lead, it was time to bring the (senior) veteran sweeper, Javier Lopez, forward, and let him try to score a goal in his final game as a Miner. The midfielders set him up with several shots, but he just couldn't convert. "I forgot how much running the forwards need to do!" exclaimed the panting Lopez. The lone SL goal came off of a penalty kick awarded after a scuffle involving (defender) Mike Okoro during a corner kick. (Junior) Mike Petty demonstrated poise and control in the backfield, and was credited with several defensive stops during the game. Back-up goal-keeper (Junior) Don Bleeker recorded eleven saves.

The Miners are looking forward to playing in the 1st division of ASL next year, where the competition should be consistently strong, and the officiating consistently good. The team congratulates two graduating seniors, Randy Clark, and Javier Lopez, and thanks them for their dedication to the team since its beginning, 2 ½ years ago.