Nov. 1, 2009

Box Score

LAS VEGAS - On his Senior Day, Peter Rodriguez scored his first goal of the season with just over two minutes left in the second half to help UNLV earn a 1-1 double-overtime tie against conference leader Sacramento State in Mountain Pacific Sports Federation men's soccer action on Sunday afternoon from Peter Johann Field. The draw outcome completed an impressive weekend for the Rebels, as on Friday night they knocked off then MPSF co-leader San Jose State 1-0 on the road, and the 1-0-1 weekend moved the Rebels' record to 7-5-4, 1-3-2 in the league.

Sacramento State (9-5-2, 5-0-1 MPSF) grabbed an early 1-0 lead in the fourth minute. A yellow card on a UNLV defender led to a free kick from 35 yards out on the right side. Max Alvarez sent the free kick deep in the middle of the box, and Scott Crandell sent a hard shot to the left post for the score.

In what was a hard-fought contest the entire afternoon, both teams would get off several shots over the rest of regulation, but strong goalie play kept the score at 1-0 until the final minutes of the second half. Following a scramble for the ball inside the box in front the Hornets goal, the ball was kicked back out to the middle of the field, but Rodriguez was there outside the top of the box to stop it. He settled the ball, and then blasted a shot through a crowd of players to the far left side of the goal for the score in the 88th minute, his second career goal.

Both teams took one shot in the first overtime period, while the Hornets had the lone shot of the second extra period. UNLV held a 17-11 edge on shots during the game, though Sacramento State had six shots on goal to five for the Rebels. Roland Swanson posted five saves for the Rebels, and Bryan Oliver made four stops in the Hornet goal.

UNLV will end the regular season on Saturday, Nov. 7, when it goes to Albuquerque to face New Mexico in a 6 pm (PST) contest.