Nov. 18, 2008

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DENVER (10-6-2 overall, 8-1-1 MPSF) split its final two regular season games, winning 3-1 at UNLV and losing 1-0 at New Mexico. Entering Albuquerque, the Pioneers had a 10-game unbeaten streak. Denver scored three unanswered goals in Las Vegas, after falling behind 1-0 in the fourth-minute. Sam Garza and Kyle Christensen each contributed one goal and one assist in the win. Next up is Denver's first-ever NCAA Tournament appearance as the MPSF automatic bid by virtue of its conference championship. The post-season road begins at UC Davis, Saturday (Nov. 22) at 1 pm. The winner heads to Ann Arbor, MI, to face No. 11 national seed Michigan.

NEW MEXICO (11-6-2 overall, 7-3-0 MPSF) finished off a perfect MPSF home season at 5-0-0 with a 4-1 win over Air Force and 1-0 shutout over Denver, snapping a 10-match unbeaten streak by the Pioneers in the process. The Lobos, who had won the last four MPSF Championships, finished second in the conference this year with 21 points. UNM also turned in an overall mark of 11-6-2 and was led by Justin Davis' 20 points.

SAN JOSE STATE (9-5-4 overall, 5-4-1 MPSF) jumped out to a 3-0 halftime lead over Sacramento State Saturday, en route to a 4-1 season-ending win. Ricky Dorrego combined for two goals and one assist in the first 35 minutes of the game. Colby Moore delivered a pair of assists, for a conference-best eight this year. Nick Cukar ended the year with nine goals, tied for the top MPSF mark, in addition to his league-high seven game-winners. The Spartans finish the 2008 season 9-5-4 overall, 5-4-1 in MPSF, and were unbeaten in their final six games.

AIR FORCE (5-13-0 overall, 3-7-0 MPSF) finishes the 2008 season in a three-way tie for fourth in the MPSF with a 1-0 win at UNLV Sunday. The lone goal belonged to Andrew Golz in the 48th-minute. Goalkeeper Jim Gullo led the MPSF this year in total saves with 88.

UNLV (8-9-1 overall, 3-7-0 MPSF) dropped two home games to end the season, 3-1 to Denver and 1-0 to Air Force. The Rebels, who end up in a three-way tie for fourth in the final MPSF standings, were led this year by senior Lamar Neagle's 18 points. His nine goals tied for first in the conference.

SACRAMENTO STATE (8-9-2 overall, 3-7-0 MPSF) dropped a 4-1 MPSF decision at San Jose State Saturday to finish the season. The Hornets were four games better this year than in 2007, turning in an 8-9-2 overall mark. Freshman goalkeeper Brian Oliver led the MPSF in several categories, including goals-against average (0.87), save percentage (.847), and shutouts (5).

DORREGO AND WRIGHT MPSF BRINE PLAYERS OF THE WEEK Woodland, Calif. -Statistically, San Jose State sophomore midfield Ricky Dorrego (San Jose, CA/Lincoln HS) turned in the most dominating single-game effort in the MPSF this year, in a 4-1 season-ending win over Sacramento State. In the first 35 minutes of the contest, he put away a pair of goals and dished out the eventual game-winning assist. He then added another assist to seal the win late in the game, for a 2008 single-game conference best six points.

Woodland, Calif. -New Mexico senior forward Chris Wright (Fair Oaks, CA/Jesuit HS) scored a pair of goals in a 4-1 win over Air Force. He also drew a penalty kick in a regular season-ending 1-0 win over MPSF Champion Denver, the Pioneers' only conference setback of the year. Wright now owns 26 career goals, ranking fifth on UNM's all-time scoring chart.