Ahead of the Pack: Ice Lobos comeback in Flagstaff, take conference crown

FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. — From a 7-0 loss to making club history.

Thanks to a 5-4 Saturday victory in the series finale against Northern Arizona University, the University of New Mexico men's club hockey team has clinched first place in the West Coast Hockey Conference for the first time.

UNM is now 17-5, with a 3-1 overtime record, sitting at 49 points on top of the WCHC with one weekend left in the regular season before the conference playoffs in February. 

The Lobos, coming off a successful weekend in Los Alamos, did not look like they were going to clinch a history-making feat when they first hit the ice in Flagstaff. Four first-period goals by the Lumberjacks quickly made Friday night a bleak one.

If UNM were to drop both matchups, something that has not happened to the team all season, it would open the door for second-place Grand Canyon University, as GCU posted a two-win weekend over Arizona State in Tempe.

But while the Antelopes did their part, the Lobos closed the door on their purple-colored dreams.

A 3-1 deficit after one period left put their chances in question, but in standard Lobo fashion this season, the team brought the theatrics and put on another thriller. Fighting back to be down 4-3 entering the third period, UNM scored two unanswered and rode to an emphatic 5-4 win at Jay Lively Arena.

The Lobos capitalized on a roughing call on NAU in the third, with Santiago Del Olmo and Zach Ganshaw both finding the back of the net. Before the third-period heroics, it was Nick Weaver saving the day with two goals across the first and second period. 

UNM goaltender Max McKiernan moved to 11-5 on the season, giving up just one goal in the second and third periods combined to help aid the Lobo comeback.

WCHC regular season title in hand, the Lobos will now return home to the McDermott Athletic Center for a weekend series against the University of Wyoming Jan. 30-31. It will also be Lobo Sports Weekend at the rink, with the team honoring UNM athletics.

After that, it’s playoff time. UNM will take its top spot into the WCHC postseason in Los Angeles, California, set for Feb. 6-8.

The Cowboys and Lobos are set for a 7 p.m. puck drop at the MAC on Friday, Jan. 30.