May 18, 2006

LAS VEGAS - Click here for 2006 UNLV Men's Soccer Schedule

The UNLV men's soccer team, under first-year head coach Mario Sanchez, will play three games against teams that played in the 2005 NCAA Tournament on their 2006 schedule, released on Thursday. The schedule is highlighted by back-to-back games in October against New Mexico, 2005 NCAA national championship runner-ups.

"It's a very good and challenging schedule, and one I'm definitely looking forward to undertaking with the team in my first year here in Las Vegas," said Sanchez. "Being that this is my first year as a head coach, every game is going to be a highlight for me and the team, but we're still going to take it one game at a time and try to develop and improve as the season goes on."

The Rebels open the season on the road for the second straight year, this time in Spokane, Wash, to take on Gonzaga on Friday, Aug. 25. Following another road contest, at UC Riverside on Aug. 29, UNLV will then play five of its next six games at home, beginning with the UNLV adidas Invitational, which this year features Oregon State, Denver and Temple.

UNLV plays its third and final non-conference road game of the year on Sept. 10 at San Diego State, postseason participants in 2005. The team then returns home to host its second tournament of the season, the UNLV Rebel Classic on Sept. 15 and 17, which will also include UC Irvine, St. Mary's, and UMBC.

Following a home contest against Cal State Fullerton on Sept. 24, the Rebels open their 2006 Mountain Pacific Sports Federation slate at Air Force on Sept. 29.

The MPSF schedule will feature home-and-away series for the six teams in the league for the second straight season. The first conference home game will be against Sacramento State on Oct. 6, while New Mexico, two-time defending MPSF champions, comes to Las Vegas on Oct. 13. UNLV closes out the regular season on Nov. 5, at home in Las Vegas against Air Force.