Nov. 8, 1999

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. - The UNM mens soccer team beat UNLV, 3-2, in the season finale for both teams, on Sunday afternoon at the UNM Soccer Complex. Phoenix, Ariz. natives John Irwin and Ty Hibbert came up big for the Lobos, both scoring one goal and assisting on another. UNM finishes the season 9-8-1 (4-2-1 MPSF), while the Rebels fall to 7-11-0 (2-5-0 MPSF).

The Lobos took control of the game in the early going, when Hibbert scored off a pass from senior Jeremy Hand (Las Cruces, N.M.) in the 12th minute of play. UNM and UNLV played evenly throughout the half, until the 40th minute, when Irwin scored the second goal of the game off a pass from Hibbert. The Lobos took their 2-0 lead into the half.

In the second half, UNLV took charge, having nine shots and holding the Lobos to three. In the 68th minute, UNM got its third score when Irwin passed to Jovan Batiste (Tucson, Ariz.). The Rebels continued their pursuit of the Lobos and finally got on the board in the 70th minute when Tyler Turchi scored on a pass from B.J. McNicol. UNLV had the chance to get another goal, but denied on a penalty kick in the 82nd minute when UNM goalie Chad Nelson (Tucson, Ariz.) made a incredible save. UNLV did get another goal in the 84th minute when Jason Melendez scored on an assist from Geoff Barto, but it wasnt enough as the Lobos hung on for their third straight victory.

Nelson had perhaps his best outing of the season in the last game of his UNM career, with seven saves on the day.

Scoring by Periods              1       2               F       University of New Mexico        2       1       -       3UNLV                            0       2       -       2       
First  Half:    1.      UNM-Ty Hibbert (Hand)                   11:48                2.      UNM-John Irwin (Hibbert)                39:52
Second Half     1.      UNM-Jovan Batiste (Irwin)               67:32                2.      UNLV-Tyler Turchi (McNicol)             69:48                3.      UNLV-Jason Melendez (Barto)             83:56