Aug. 25, 2005

LAS VEGAS -

UNLV Weekly Soccer Release
Download Free Acrobat Reader

The UNLV women's soccer team officially opens the 2005 season on Friday as the Rebels host Cal State Northridge at 7 pm at Peter Johann Memorial Field. They will also play in-state rival Nevada, Reno on Sunday with a 4 pm start.

There are several storylines going into this weekend, foremost is that there is a new face on the UNLV sidelines, as Katherine Mertz begins her first year as head coach for the Rebels, after spending five years as an assistant coach at UCLA.

UNLV is also looking to keep alive its school-record nine-game home winning streak. The Rebels last lost on Peter Johann Memorial Field in the season opener last season, falling to No. 17 Kansas 2-0 on Aug. 28, 2004. The Rebels reeled off nine straight after that loss, and hope their home field advantage plays a big part in this season, as the 2005 MWC Tournament will be held in Las Vegas in November.

UNLV finished the 2004 season with a school-record 12-5-2 mark while winning the MWC regular season championship and earning a trip to the NCAA Tournament for the first time in school history. Cal State Northridge meanwhile posted a 12-6-1 record in 2004, while the Wolf Pack were 2-15-1 in their first year under head coach Terri Patraw.