Oct. 6, 2004

LAS VEGAS - The top two women's soccer teams in the Mountain West Conference will face off on Thursday, as UNLV and Utah will face off on Thursday in Salt Lake City in the first conference game of the season. The game is set for a 2 pm (PST) start, and a radio broadcast of the game will be available on the Utah website (www.UtahUtes.com).

UNLV (7-2-2) and Utah (7-3-1) are both tied for 10th in this week's NSCAA/addidas West region rankings. The Rebels are riding a four-game unbeated streak, and have not allowed a goal in the last 225:11, having shutout their last three opponents, including a 1-0 win over Idaho State (Sept. 30), and a 2-0 win over Arizona State (Oct. 3). Junior Nickie Olson leads the team with eight points (three goals, two assists), while Jessica Brown is posting two goals and four assists for eight points as well. The top goalie in the MWC, Jenna Huff leads the conference in saves (61), shutouts (six), and has a 0.78 goals against average for the year.

Utah is led by Chelsea Card with four goals, while Amanda Feigt has a team-high nine points off three goals and three assists. Ashley Mason has seen the majority of time in goal, and has 33 saves with a 1.20 goals against average. The Utes upset then No. 7 UCLA 2-1 last weekend, but followed that with a 3-0 loss at San Diego on Sunday in their last contest before Thursday's match.

Utah leads the all-time series 5-1-1, though the two teams tied in the last meeting in Salt Lake City. In the semifinals of the 2003 MWC Tournament, the teams played to a 0-0 double-overtime tie, though the Utes advanced to the championship game after winning a penalty kick shootout 6-5.

Following the game, UNLV will stay on the road to meet BYU on Saturday at 6 pm in Provo, Utah.