Sept. 4, 2005
Box Score
TEMPE, Ariz. - Senior defender Nickie Olson's goal off a free kick in the 84th minute gave UNLV a 2-1 come-from-behind victory over Arizona State in women's collegiate soccer action on Sunday afternoon at the Sun Devil Soccer Stadium. The Rebels, who won for the first time in three games in Tempe. improved to 3-1 with their third straight victory, while the Sun Devils fell to 2-2.
Arizona State got on the scoreboard early in the first half for the first score of the game. Manya Makoski came up with the ball off an ASU corner kick, and centered a pass to Haley Stein, who tipped it in for her first goal of the year at 15:18. That would be the only time the Sun Devils would get past UNLV goalkeeper Ciera Nero the rest of the afternoon, as the freshman posted a career-high nine saves while facing a total of 18 ASU shots.
The game was tied 10 minutes later, when Rebel midfielder Katie Carney dribbled through the Sun Devil defense and slipped a low shot past ASU goalie Kim Bingham for her second score of the year at 25:26.
Though both teams took six shots apiece in the first half, ASU outshot the Rebels 12-3 in the second half, forcing Nero to come up with seven saves. Arizona State also committed just one foul in the second half, but it turned out to be a very costly foul, as on the ensuring free kick, Olson blasted a shot from near midfield that bounced over Bingham and into the ASU goal for the game-winning score at 83:59.
ASU finished with an 18-9 edge on shots, and 7-1 edge on corner kicks. Nero finished with nine saves and one goal allowed for UNLV, while Bingham posted three saves and two goals allowed in 90 minutes of action.
The Rebels will return to action this weekend, as they will play in the VCU Invitational in Richmond, Va. UNLV faces Richmond on Friday at 1:30 pm (PST), before taking on the host VCU Rams on Sunday at 10:30 am (PST).
