Sept. 21, 2003
Box Score
LAS VEGAS - Senior midfielder Alex Hernandez's shorthanded goal in the second overtime lifted UNLV to a 3-2 victory over Bowling Green in men's collegiate soccer action on Sunday from Peter Johann Field. The Rebels, who went into extra time for the first time this season, improved to 3-5 on the year while Bowling Green fell to 2-2-2. The game was part of the Rebel Tournament, and the day's second game also went into double overtime, with San Diego State (4-1-1) claiming a 2-1 victory over Drake (5-1-1).
Bowling Green took a 1-0 lead in the first half, when Paul Dhaliwal's shot was stopped by UNLV goalie Peter Clitheroe, but Paul Seip collected the rebounded and scored from five yards out at the 34:56 mark. The Rebels rallied in the second half with a pair of goals for a 2-1 lead. Hernandez tied the game at 52:26 with a blast from outside the top of the box, and Victor Arbelaez collected a cross from Cole McCool just in front of the goal and sent the ball to the back of the net for UNLV's second goal at the 63:05 mark.
Seip set up the next goal for the Falcons, as he sent a long pass to Omari Aldridge, who was challenged by Clitheroe but took the shot from 15 yards out for the goal to tie the game at 2-2 at 81:47. Just 17 seconds later, UNLV's Michael Meek was ejected with a red card, and the Rebels were forced to play a man down the rest of the game. That didn't stop the Rebels however, as after a scoreless first overtime period, Hernandez scored his "golden goal" in the second overtime at 104:58 for the 3-2 UNLV victory. Rod Dyachenko sent a pass to Arbelaez down the left side, and Arbelaez's cross into the box found Hernandez, who converted his shot into the left side of the goal.
In the second game, San Diego State took a 1-0 lead on Heath Creager's goal at 45:45, on an assist from Kevin Sapanli. Drake tied the score less then four minutes later, when Matt Nickell dribbled around three defenders and shot from the top of the box into the net at the 49:35 mark. In the second overtime, SDSU goalie Colin Hanke sent a punt down the field to Creager, who then fed Blake Perry for the game-winner on a blast into the right side of the goal at 107:38.
UNLV hosts the UNLV/FILA Classic this weekend, as the Rebels will take on Cal State Northridge on Friday, Sept. 26 at 7:30 p.m.. New Mexico and Gonzaga play in the first game at 5 p.m.. On Sunday, Sept. 28, UNLV meets Gonzaga at Noon, and UNM faces off against Cal State Northridge at 2 p.m., with all games being played at Peter Johann Memorial Field.
