Oct. 17, 2008
Box Score
LAS VEGAS - In front of a school record crowd of 1,220, UNLV scored twice in a 52-second span in the second half to take down conference co-leader New Mexico 2-1 on Friday night in Mountain Pacific Sports Federation men's soccer action from Peter Johann Memorial Field. With their third straight win, the Rebels move into a tie for second with the Lobos in league play at 3-2, and UNLV is now 8-4-1 on the season. UNM dropped to 6-4-2.
The first half saw both teams get several good scoring looks, but were stopped by strong goalie play, especially from UNLV's Hawk Mummey who posted six saves in the first half. UNLV would take a 1-0 lead in the 53rd minute (52:46) on Stephen Sifuentes' third goal in the last thee games. With the Rebels pushing the attack into the box, Sifuentes received a short pass and sent a hard shot to the left side of the goal that deflected off the back of a Lobo defender and into the net for the 1-0 Rebel lead.
Just 52 seconds later the Rebels pushed their advantage to 2-0 when Daniel Cruz dribbled into the top of the box and blasted a shot from 20 yards out to the top left corner in the 54th minute. It would turn out to be Cruz's third game-winner of the season, and his fifth goal of the year.
New Mexico nearly cut the UNLV lead into half in the 66th minute, as with Mummey out of position, Stephen Brown took a shot on goal from less then seven yards away. Rebel defender John Crawley came flying over from the side though to kick away the ball at the goalline at the last second to keep the Lobos scoreless.
New Mexico kept pushing, and came up with its first score in the 81st minute, when Chris Wright headed in a cross from Justin Davis five yards out from the goal, bringing the Lobos within 2-1. UNLV's defense would hold though over the final 10 minutes, giving the Rebels the victory.
New Mexico finished the game with a 15-12 advantage on shots, and 7-5 edge on corner kicks.
UNLV will now have a two-week break before returning to action against the Lobos in Albuquerque, N.M., on Friday, Oct. 31 at 6 pm (PST).
