Box Score ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. Trailing by one with less than 10 minutes remaining in regulation, sophomore forward Kellan Christensen (Layton, Utah) headed in a corner kick from junior midfielder Joe Mathot (Port Moody, B.C.), giving the Pioneers a 1-1 tie with No. 22 New Mexico.
“The guys worked really hard today, and I’m proud that they fought and clawed their way to a tie,” head coach Bobby Muuss said. “We came in the first half and played as well as we have played all year. We had great ball movement and played exactly the way we want DU soccer to play. This was a good game for us, and we need to take it and use it to continue to improve our program.”
The Lobos (5-3-1, 0-0-1) struck first in the 56th minute, when Chris Wright headed a pass from Jack Smithson past freshman goalkeeper Teale Stone (Tulsa, Okla.), who was making his first career start for the Pioneers (4-3-1, 0-0-1).
“I’m very proud of Teale Stone and the way he played tonight,” Muuss said. “He was thrown into the fire here in New Mexico, which is a very difficult place to play, and he got the job done.”
Junior forward Greg Fiddick (Sidney, B.C.) returned to the Pioneers’ roster for the first time this season after missing the first seven games with an injury.
The game marked the first Mountain Pacific Sports Federation game this season for both teams.
The Pioneers continue their road swing, traveling to Las Vegas, Nev., to meet UNLV on Sunday at 2:30 p.m.
