The University of New Mexico Lobos have made great strides in multiple sports this year. None more so than the progress under Coach Bronco Mendenhall. The Lobos grounded the Air Force and had other results around the different sports.
New Mexico Track & Field 2024-25 Indoor Schedule
The New Mexico Track & Field program has published its complete indoor schedule for the 2024-25 season, featuring four home meets at the Albuquerque Convention Center, which will also host the Mountain West Indoor Championships in 2025. The Lobos are set to participate in nine regular-season meets throughout the indoor season, with all home events being streamed live exclusively on FloTrack.
For the tenth consecutive season, the Mountain West Indoor Championships will take place at the Albuquerque Convention Center, marking the 15th time the facility has hosted this significant event. This venue has gained a reputation for its elite indoor track competitions. The Albuquerque Convention Center has produced numerous outstanding performances, with 23 marks that ranked among the Top 10 nationwide on the NCAA Division I Indoor Qualifying List recorded there over the last season.
All relevant information regarding home meets—including schedules, live results, and entry lists—will be available at GoLobos.com/HomeTrack. Fans can follow @UNMLoboXCTF on platforms like Instagram, Twitter (formerly X), and Facebook for real-time updates, live coverage, and exclusive behind-the-scenes content.
Fresh off a competitive cross-country season, the Lobos will kick off their indoor track campaign at the BU Colyear-Danville Opener in Boston on December 7. This event is recognized for consistently producing top indoor distance times in the country, making it a significant opening meet for the program before the winter break.
After the winter semester begins, UNM will resume competition at the TTU Corky Classic on January 18 in Lubbock, Texas. A week later, the Lobos will host their first home meet, the Dr. MLK Jr. Invitational, from January 24-25. Following that event, the team will split its efforts between the UNM Team Open in Albuquerque and the UW Invitational in Seattle, scheduled for January 31-February 1.
The New Mexico Classic, featuring 16 teams, is set for February 7-8, followed by the Don Kirby Elite Invitational on February 14-15. A contingent of UNM athletes will once again head to Seattle for the Husky Classic during the same weekend.
After a brief trip to Notre Dame for the prestigious Alex Wilson Invitational on February 22, the Lobos will return to host the Mountain West Indoor Championships, reinforcing Albuquerque’s status as a prominent venue for indoor track events. In Head Coach Darren Gauson’s inaugural year in 2024, the Lobos finished impressively in the previous championships, taking fourth place for the women and fifth for the men, with Habtom Samuel earning accolades as the Mountain West Outstanding Performer and Indoor Athlete of the Year.
Athletes from UNM who achieve marks ranking among the Top 16 individuals or relay teams in NCAA Division I will qualify for the NCAA Indoor Track & Field Championships. This prestigious championship is set to take place at the Virginia Beach Sports Center in Virginia Beach, Virginia. Last season, noteworthy performances by freshmen Habtom Samuel and Evans Kiplagat secured their spots in the NCAA Championships, where Samuel achieved First Team All-American honors for both the 3,000m and 5,000m events, while Kiplagat earned Second Team All-American status in the 5,000m.
New Mexico Women’s Soccer
In soccer news, the New Mexico Lobos’ women’s team is gearing up for a home match against Fresno State on Thursday at 7:30 p.m., marking their first home game since September 29. Fans can catch the action live on the Mountain West Network, with live statistics available for those unable to attend.
Entering this segment of the season, UNM holds a record of 6-4-3 overall and 2-3-1 in Mountain West play after a recent performance of 1-0-1, where the Lobos defeated Air Force 2-1 and secured a tie against Colorado College 0-0. The Bulldogs from Fresno State currently stand at 5-6-3 for the season and are struggling in conference play with a record of 0-4-2 after a draw against UNLV and a loss to Nevada.
Historically, the Lobos have had a favorable matchup against Fresno State, holding a record of 7-3-4 against the Bulldogs, including a strong 4-1-1 mark in games played at home. Notably, UNM is unbeaten in the last seven encounters with Fresno State, with four wins and three ties since October 6, 2017.
Coach Dyche has demonstrated effective strategies against the Bulldogs with a record of 5-1-3, including an undefeated 3-0-1 at home competitions. Overall, New Mexico has outscored Fresno State 23 goals to 18 in their contests, which includes two shutout victories at home.
In their recent performances, several Lobos have made significant contributions. Presley Devey has scored decisive goals three times, while Ellie Robinson, Nicole Anderson, and Alysa Whelchel have each registered one game-winning goal. Additionally, Natalie DeGagne has been a consistent playmaker, recording assists in three matches and scoring in the season opener and two of the last three games.
The Lobos have exhibited flexibility in their lineup throughout the season, utilizing six different variations, with a continued preference for the same lineup in recent matches.
The current roster includes eight sophomore players, with four of them starting all 13 matches. Fiona Jenkins, Nicole Anderson, Callie Droitsch, and Kennedy Brown have played key roles, with Jenkins and Droitsch having logged over 1,000 minutes during the season. Notably, Anderson is among the leading scorers with four goals and eight points.
Moreover, the Lobos have consistently fielded a majority of underclassmen in matches, showing great potential for the future as they rely heavily on the development of their young talent.
Recent Honors
Following a busy week, two Lobos have earned their inaugural Mountain West weekly awards. Ashley Moody has been recognized as the Mountain West Freshman of the Week, while Callie Droitsch has been named the Mountain West Defensive Player of the Week.
Droitsch’s recognition came after she achieved a remarkable performance, recording a shutout in one match and allowing just one goal across two road contests. The redshirt-sophomore made a total of 10 saves during this span, including matching her career-high with six saves against Air Force.
In contrast, Moody played a vital role in defense, completing two full matches and contributing to the Lobos allowing only one goal during the week. Her efforts indicate a strong performance throughout the season, with the recent awards increasing the Lobos’ accolades to three for the current year, alongside Devey’s earlier Offensive Player of the Week recognition.
New Mexico Football
In football news, the New Mexico Lobos recorded an impressive 52-37 victory over Air Force, marking a significant milestone with a second consecutive win for head coach Bronco Mendenhall in his first season at New Mexico. This victory was highlighted by an impressive offensive display where the Lobos accumulated 255 rushing yards and achieved five rushing touchdowns.
Eli Sanders had a standout performance, scoring two touchdowns, while Devon Dampier and Sol-Jay Maiava-Peters contributed with two and one touchdowns, respectively. Sanders executed long scoring runs of 35 and 31 yards, showcasing the Lobos’ offensive prowess for the second consecutive game with 50 points being scored— a feat not achieved by the team in 108 years.
The Lobos initially faced some challenges with a three-and-out on their opening drive, allowing Air Force the opportunity to score first with a field goal. However, UNM quickly regained control, culminating in Dampier leading the team through a 75-yard touchdown drive that ended with a touchdown run.
UNM’s defense showcased resilience against Air Force’s attempts to mount a comeback, limiting their scoring opportunities and securing critical fourth-down stops that shifted the momentum back to the Lobos. The defensive unit was instrumental in the second half, enabling the Lobos to maintain their comfortable lead despite a late push from Air Force, who scored 20 points in the final quarter.
Following the victory, the Lobos are positioned favorably as they prepare for their upcoming challenges, boasting a solid record and a high-powered offense that will signify their aspirations for continued success moving forward into the season.
New Mexico Volleyball
The New Mexico Volleyball team faced a tough challenge against Nevada, resulting in a four-set loss (27-25, 25-27, 22-25, 22-25). Despite the setback, the Lobos demonstrated resilience by pushing for a fifth set but were halted by a late sequence from Nevada that included a decisive 6-0 run.
The Lobos executed a commendable opening set with significant contributions from multiple players. Jada Bouyer led the team with 15 kills, while Lauryn Payne, Kialah Jefferson, and Elizabeth Woods each contributed with double-digit kills. Notably, the team served up a season-high eight aces, a marked improvement in their service game over previous weeks.
Throughout the match, the Lobos maintained their competitive spirit, and despite offensive inconsistencies, they managed to outblock the Wolfpack significantly, tallied at 17 blocks as a team, demonstrating their potential on defense. These statistics reveal both strengths and areas for improvement as they continue with their Mountain West conference play.
Looking ahead, the Lobos will return home to face San Jose State, set for October 17 at the Johnson Center. The match will be available for streaming on the Mountain West Network, with all matchday elements—live stats, streaming links, and other details—accessible via GoLobos.com/FollowVB. Fans are encouraged to follow the Lobos’ social media pages for additional coverage and updates.