Nov. 10, 2001
LAS VEGAS - With a minute and a half left in regulation, freshman defender Jenny Ruiz gave the third-seeded UNLV women's soccer team one last shot against top-seeded Brigham Young Saturday afternoon in the championship finals of the 2001 Mountain West Conference Championship in Las Vegas.
Ruiz, a native of Corona, Calif., took control of the ball from 30-yards out and hit the right of the goal in the 89th minute, to give the Rebels a chance for a comeback in the last seconds of the game. The BYU defense, however, would not allow another score in the final minute, ending the match in a 2-1 victory and third-straight MWC title for the Cougars.
Brigham Young used a two goal lead in the first half to insure its right to the conference crown and league's automatic bid to the 2001 NCAA Women's College Cup. Tournament Most Valuable Player Lydia Ojuka opened the game with her third goal of the tournament at the 5:49 minute mark and was later followed by teammate Kelly Hunsberger, who aimed straight on goal, sneaking the ball just under the crossbar over senior goalkeeper Alice Gleason at 35:32.
Senior midfielder Anita Pedford (Ontario, Calif.) and senior defender Marni Polakow (Buffalo Grove, Ill.) were named to the 2001 MWC All-Tournament Team, the first postseason tournament selections ever bestowed to a UNLV women's soccer player. Pedford will go down in school history as the Rebels' all-time leading scorer with 25 goals and 16 assists for an outstanding career 66 points.
The Rebels end the season at 12-7-2 for their second consecutive winning season under second-year UNLV coach Dan Abdalla. Ruiz's goal, only the second goal ever made against BYU, keeps intact the Rebels' 26 consecutive game goal streak, which dates back to Oct. 18, 2000.
2001 Mountain West Conference
Women's Soccer Championship
Game 6, Championship Game - Las Vegas, Nev.
(3) UNLV 0 1 - 1(1) BYU 2 0 - 2
SCORING SUMMARYBYU - Lydia Ojuka (unassisted), 5:49.BYU - Kelly Hunsberger (unassisted), 35:32.UNLV - Jenny Ruiz (unassisted), 88:30.
SHOTSUNLV (4), BYU (23)
CORNER KICKSUNLV (0), BYU (9)
GOALKEEPER SAVESUNLV (9) - Alice GleasonBYU (0) - Jennifer Waldron
