There's a different attitude within the Sul Ross State men's soccer program this season.

Second-year head coach Bailey Guffin brought in 27 new players from all across the globe to help give the program a new style and look.

The Lobos open up the 2024 campaign on the road in Hobbs, New Mexico, with a match against University of the Southwest on Saturday, Sept. 7 at 4:30 p.m. CST.

>> PREVIEWING THE WEEK:

The Lobos take on the Mustangs for the third time in program history. Both teams met in 2019 and 2023. The Mustangs spoiled Sul Ross State's home opener last fall with a 2-0 shutout victory.

University of the Southwest opened its season with a 1-0 victory over Oklahoma Panhandle State last week.

The Mustangs are part of the Red River Athletic Conference within the NAIA level.

Last season, University of the Southwest finished 2-12-2 with its lone wins coming during the season opener and season finale.

Sul Ross State is seeking its first season-opening victory since a 1-0 win over Schreiner University on Sept. 5, 2021.

>> THE LOBOS:

• Newcomers Lewis Coates, Martin Foro and Isaac Poole were named preseason players to watch by the Lone Star Conference.
• The Lobos return five players from last season.
• Sophomore forward Angel Lugo led the Lobos with three goals and two assists last fall.
• Junior defender Andrew Magana played the most minutes of any Lobo last season logging in 1,429 minutes on the pitch.
• Seven different countries along with four different states are represented on this year's roster making it the most diverse in program history.
• The Lobos have six home games this season. The home opener is Thursday, Sept. 19 at 1 p.m. CST against the University of St. Thomas.

>> WHAT THE COACH SAID:

"We look way different this year. We look way more excited, bigger, faster, stronger — 31 guys that want to play for Sul Ross, and that's what we wanted. We look D-II ready. There's a really good buzz about the place. I think a lot of teams, not just at Sul Ross but everywhere in Texas right now, are talking about us. I think the guys are really getting behind that. They like the underdog part of what we're doing. Every game that we go into, nobody knows what we're going to do. That's the fun part about it. We're going to go in there and shock a bunch of teams. I think there's a lot to come for us." — Bailey Guffin on the season outlook
 
"We wanted to change things up and bring in some international guys that are getting some big-time experience back home. They're bringing their culture and their version of the game to the guys that are here in Texas. We needed some more mature players and some guys with a different type of experience. It's a good change so far. I think they're blending in very well." — Guffin on the international players
 
"Just the culture of winning. I think that's what we have to have. I don't think we've ever had that before. There's a mentality to win. It's got to be a winning mentality. I definitely think we have that and it's changing. I think the beautiful thing about brand new players is they have no idea what this place looked like. It's a different type of mindset now. That's what we're hoping for right now." — Guffin on the new mentality of the program

>> WHAT THE PLAYERS SAID:

"We got ranked the lowest on the polls. We don't think that's representative of us as a team. We really want to prove everyone wrong, and I think we will with this team we have. I think we're really going to make a statement. It's great to have that diversity and different styles of football. It pushes other people to do better in certain aspects. I'm expecting big things from the team. It's a good group of boys. I think we can do something this season." — Daniel Quickenden
 
"I think it's going to be a really exciting season and I'm looking forward to it with this amazing team. It's really nice to have people from all over the world. Well, first things first — win. We're growing after every game. Win as many games as we can, finish this season and look back and see that we have done a really good job." — Manuel Ruiz Luque
 
GAME DETAILS
WHO: Sul Ross State at University of the Southwest
WHEN: 4:30 p.m. CST (Saturday, Sept. 7)
WHERE: Hobbs, N.M. | Bob Moran Soccer Field
LIVE STATS: https://srlobos.com/sidearmstats/msoc/summary