How sweep it is: Lobos notch first two-win weekend of season, heroics at MAC

RIO RANCHO — It was another milestone weekend for the University of New Mexico men’s club hockey team.

In a two-game set against Eastern Texas Baptist University, the Ice Lobos notched their first sweep of a series on the season. It also marks their first-ever series sweep in front of the McDermott Athletic Center crowd.

Taking two straight from the visiting Tigers may be the headline, but there was plenty of news to unpack from the Halloween weekend matchup. Both contests were decided by one goal, including an overtime victory in the finale.

Friday’s 3-2 thriller was the Issa Murakami show, with the first-year Lobo posting a hat trick and the winning goal in his first signature performance of his collegiate tenure. Murakami, originally from Japan, was an offensive weapon for the NM Ice Wolves last year. Now, he’s bringing his A-game to the college circuit.

But after a Friday victory, Saturday was starting to look like the usual script for UNM. Entering the weekend with a record of 4-4, splitting every series they have played this season, it felt as if the “Even Steven” beginning of the season for UNM would roll on.

But with the Lobos and Tigers heading into overtime tied 1-1, the boys in cherry red decided to change the narrative.

With a minute to go in the extra period, Joseph Gutierrez buried the golden goal to seal the two-win weekend for New Mexico.

While the goal column was the highlight of the weekend, the unsung hero of the series was the Lobo defense. Goalies Mac McKiernan and Kameron Remde combined for three goals on 51 shots across the two wins, their lowest goals-allowed total of the season.

Quite the statement over an ETBU team that hasn’t been held to three goals or less in a series since early September.

Now sitting at 6-4 on the year, the Lobos will try and carry their momentum into another weekend series at the MAC. They will welcome the Colorado State Rams on Nov. 7 and Nov. 8 in pursuit of their first three-game (potentially four?) win streak of the season.