Nov. 2, 2003
Box Score
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. - Needing a victory to seal a spot in the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation tournament, UNLV posted its second straight shutout with a 2-0 win at Air Force in men's collegiate soccer action on Sunday afternoon from Cadet Soccer Stadium in Colorado Springs, Colo. The win pushed UNLV to 6-11 for the year, and evened their conference mark to 3-3.
The three wins gives the Rebels nine points in conference play, which has put them in a tie for second place along with New Mexico. UNLV has finished conference play, but there remain three games in the conference yet to be played during the coming week. Depending on the results, the Rebels can finish anywhere between second and fifth, but has locked up one of the conference tournament's six berths. Seedings and times for the 2003 MPSF Tournament, which is being hosted by Sacramento State on Nov. 13-16, will be announced on Nov. 10, following the end of the final conference regular season game.
Senior midfielder Alex Hernandez scored for the third game in a row and the 11th time this season to give the Rebels a 1-0 lead at the 36:06 mark. Leandro Iocco moved down the left side of the field past an Air Force defender and sent a centering pass to the front of the net. Hernandez jumped in the air as he approached the net and, while airborn, kicked the ball past Falcon goalie Brian Dougal. The goal for Hernandez was also the 34th of his career, tying him for sixth all-time at UNLV along with Bleda Atilla (1975-78).
Iocco then scored UNLV's second goal with just 2:26 left in the contest as the Falcons were heavily attacking the Rebel defense. Iocco took a pass from Victor "Boomer" Arbelaez just past midfield and was one-on-one with Dougal. As Dougal came out to challenge him, Iocco made a move past the Falcon goalie to the center of the field and fired into an open net.
Rebel goalkeeper Peter Clitheroe finished with eight saves in goal as he collected his second straight shutout and third of the season. Dougal made four saves for Air Force.
