December 18, 1998
Las Vegas - The UNLV women's soccer team wrapped up their inaugural season of competition with an overall record of 8-10-1 and a Western Athletic Conference mark of 1-4-1.
The Rebels opened their season with a 2-1 loss at Pepperdine. Thyree Brooks scored the first goal in team history at the 52nd minute mark. The Rebels traveled to the Air Force Academy on September 4 for the Falcon Invitational in search of their first win. It didn't take them long as they defeated the Cadets 2-1. Anita Pedford scored the game-winning goal for the Rebels at the 18:26 mark. The Rebels picked up their second win of the season when they shut out the University of Denver 1-0. The Rebels won the Falcon Invitational and freshman Pedford was named the tournament's most valuable offensive player.
The Rebels returned for their first home contest on September 13 when they hosted Michigan State. The game took on dual importance. Not only was it the Rebels' first home game but it was versus the alma mater of Head Coach Staci Hendershott and Assistant Coach Damon Rensing.
UNLV officially welcomed Hendershott and the University's newest intercollegiate sport in a brief ceremony prior to the game. Dr. Carol C Harter, President of UNLV; Charles Cavagnaro, Director of Intercollegiate Athletics; Carolyn Sparks, President of the Women's Sports Foundation; and Dr. Myrlene Lamancusa, Faculty Athletic Representative were all on hand to participate in the festivities.
The Silver State Youth Soccer Association presented a check for $4,500 to the women's soccer program. The check presentation represented one dollar for every girl registered to play soccer with Silver State.
Michigan State jumped out to an early 1-0 lead. Felicia Madrigal tied the game at 1-1 with a goal at the 68:29 mark. At 83:59 Beanna Seaton scored the game-winning goal, giving the Rebels their first home victory. The win was the Rebels' third in a row. It would be their longest winning streak of the season.
The Rebels finished up the month of September with losses to Cal State Northridge and Weber State, while picking up victories over Boise State, Idaho State and Utah State. UNLV headed into October with an overall record of 6-3.
The young Rebel squad reached a pivotal point in its season beginning with a marathon contest vs. Wyoming October 1. The two teams battled to a double overtime affair with the Rebels coming out on top 2-1. The Rebels had to turn around the following night and play Sacramento State. After the Hornets jumped out to 2-0 halftime lead, the Rebels picked up a goal early in the second half but were unable to pull out the win.
The Rebels opened up their first and last season as a member of the Western Athletic Conference at home against Fresno State. The school moves to the Mountain West Conference next season. It looked like it would be a high scoring game when Janae Sims scored the game's opening goal at the :45 mark. Fresno State responded with a goal at the 20:02 mark. That would be all the offense the game would see as the two teams played to a 1-1 draw.
The Rebels closed out the home portion of the schedule when they took on San Jose State. UNLV played its second consecutive double-overtime game defeating the Spartans 2-1. The Spartans picked up the first goal of the game at 43:29 mark. The Rebels responded at the 44:37 mark with a goal by Stephanie Sutter. Sims scored the game-winning goal at the 115:34 mark. It would be the final victory of the Rebels' inaugural season.
UNLV closed out their season with a six game road trip, dropping all six games. During that time, it took on nationally ranked opponents in San Diego State and BYU as well as Hawai'i, Utah, New Mexico and 1997 Big Ten Champion Minnesota. The Rebels picked up a few post season honors. They were ranked third by Soccer Buzz in the category of First Year Programs. Pedford was named the WAC's Pacific Division Freshman of the year. She was the lone Rebel representative to the Pacific Division's second team.
With a successful first season and a solid group of returners, Coach Hendershott has a foundation to build on for the future.
A Season of Firsts: -First Game: September 1, 1998-at Pepperdine -First Goal Scored: Thyree Brooks-52:00-at Pepperdine-Sept. 1, 1998 -First Victory: September 4, 1998-at Air Force (2-1) -First Game-winning Goal: Anita Pedford-18:26-at Air Force-Sept. 4, 1998 -First Home Game: September 13, 1998-vs. Michigan State
1998 Women's Soccer Schedule/Results
Sept. 1 at Pepperdine (2-1) L 4 at Air Force (2-1) W 6 at University of Denver (1-0) W 13 MICHIGAN STATE (2-1) W 16 at Cal State Northridge (2-1) L 18 BOISE STATE (2-1) W 20 IDAHO STATE (1-0) W 25 at Weber State (2-0) L 27 at Utah State (3-2) W
Oct. 1 WYOMING (2-1) W (2OT) 2 SACRAMENTO STATE (1-2) L 9 FRESNO STATE* (1-1) T (2OT) 11 SAN JOSE STATE* (2-1) W (2OT) 14 at San Diego State* (4-0) L 18 at Hawai'i* (3-0) L 22 at BYU* (5-0) L 24 at Utah* (4-0) L 28 at New Mexico (3-2) L (OT) 30 at Minnesota (3-0) L
*Denotes a WAC Match.
Western Athletic Conference Standings
PACIFIC WAC ALL W L T Pct. W L T Pct.San Diego State 6 0 0 1.000 19 3 1 .848Brigham Young 5 1 0 .833 20 5 0 .800Fresno State 2 3 1 .417 8 10 4 .455San Jose State 2 4 0 .333 6 16 0 .273Utah 2 4 0 .333 12 7 0 .632Hawai'i 2 4 0 .333 11 7 0 .611UNLV 1 4 1 .250 8 10 1 .447
MOUNTAIN WAC ALL W L T Pct. W L T Pct.SMU 5 1 0 .833 9 10 0 .474UTEP 5 1 0 .833 13 6 1 .675Tulsa 4 2 0 .667 12 7 0 .632TCU 2 4 0 .333 9 11 0 .450New Mexico 2 4 0 .333 4 13 2 .263Air Force 2 4 0 .333 6 12 0 .333Wyoming 1 5 0 .167 5 12 0 .294
