Aug. 28, 2005
Box Score
LAS VEGAS - UNLV's offense was as hot as the weather, as the Rebels dominated their in-state rival with a 5-0 victory over Nevada, Reno in collegiate women's soccer action on Sunday afternoon from Peter Johann Memorial Field. In a game that saw the weather hit 107 degrees, UNLV (1-1) scored twice in the first half and three times in a 13-minute span in the second to give Rebel head coach Katherine Mertz her first career coaching victory.
The five goals scored by UNLV was the most since a 5-2 win over Southern Utah on Sept. 3, 2003 in Las Vegas, while the five goal margin is the second largest in school history, behind a 9-0 win over UNR on Sept. 6, 2002.
"It's always good to score five goals, and to get our first win of the season," said Mertz. "We were a little disappointed in our play on Friday night, especially seeing how we outshot them for the game, so it was good to see us finish our shots today. I was also able to play a lot of people in today's game as well. All in all, a very good win for the Rebels."
The Rebel sophomore class was the story of the game, as they combined to score all five goals and contributed three of the four assists for the day. Midfielder Katie Carney began the scoring early for UNLV, as she notched the eventual game-winner in the fifth minute. Jessica Destito raced down the right side and found Carney alone in the middle of the box, and Carney one-timed Destito's shot to the right side for the score at 4:36. The second goal of the half came on a breakaway, when Angie Inzana moved down the right side and crossed a pass to Armani Rice in the box. Rice settled the ball and calmly sent it to the left side for the second and a 2-0 lead at 26:03.
Inzana was also involved in the next goal, sending a pass from midfield to a racing Destito down the right side. Destito reached the edge of the box, evaded the Wolf Pack defender and passed off to Erica Frizzell, who was unmarked and slotted a shot to the left post for a 3-0 lead at 54:42. After assisting on two goals, Destito got herself in the scoring column when she collected a deflected pass 25 yards from the goal, and outraced two UNR defenders before knocking a shot to the right post, making the score 4-0 at 63:00.
Nevada, Reno struggled all day with UNLV's speed on offense, and that led to the final score of the afternoon, when Armani Rice took a pass from midfield and streaked down the right side. She was taken down just outside the box, but managed to get a pass off to Frizzell. With the goalkeeper out of position, Frizzell scored an easy goal from five yards out for her second of the day, and pushing the Rebels' lead to 5-0 at 67:39.
UNLV finished with a 17-9 edge on shots, and a 9-2 edge on corner kicks. Rebel freshman goalkeeper Ciera Nero posted her first career shutout while collecting six saves. Megan Tarpenning played the first half for UNR, and allowed two goals while making one save. Cailtlin Holmes finished the game for the Wolf Pack, and finished with three goals allowed and three saves.
UNLV will next take to the road for the first time this season, as the Rebels will meet Utah State in Logan, Utah on Friday, Sept. 2 at 3 pm.
