Oct. 5, 2006

Box Score

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah - No. 19 Utah scored one first half goal and held off a strong rally by the Rebels in the second half to claim a 1-0 victory over UNLV in the Mountain West Conference women's soccer season opener for both teams Thursday afternoon at Ute Field. The loss sent UNLV to 5-7-1 for the year while the Utes improved to 8-4.

The winning score came in the 36th minute, when Adele Letro and Amanda Feight hooked up on a give and go, with Letro getting the ball back 10 yards out from the goal, and sending a shot past Rebel goalkeeper Ciera Nero.

Utah had a chance for an insurance goal in the second half after being awarded a penalty kick, but Kiley Jones sent the PK over the goal, keeping UNLV alive in the match. The Rebels pressured Utah the entire second half, taking six shots and forcing Ashley Mason to make four saves total in the half, including a couple outstanding stops to keep the game scoreless.

Nero finished with two saves in goal while Mason posted five to earn the shutout. Utah would finish with a 12-10 edge on shots while the Rebels had six corner kicks in the game to three for Utah.

The Rebels will play a second straight conference road game this Sunday, at San Diego State with an 11:30 am start.