Sept. 20, 2009
Box Score
LAS VEGAS - UNLV freshmen Zach Kupfer and Nick Marshall combined for three first half goals to lift the Rebels to a 3-2 victory over Florida Gulf Coast in men's college soccer action on Sunday afternoon from Peter Johann Memorial Field in the final game of the Rebel Classic. The victory improved UNLV's record to 4-1-2 on the year, while FGCU is now 2-4-1 on the season.
Kupfer got the scoring going quickly for the Rebels, as he recorded his fourth goal of the season less then nine minutes into the contest. The play started when Stephen Sifuentes went up high for a ball and headed it down in the box to Kupfer on the right side, who quickly slotted a shot across the goal to the far right side for the score.
Marshall increased UNLV's lead to 2-0 in the 25th minute, thanks to an assist from Sal Ornelas, who sent a long high pass over the Eagle defense. Marshall outran the defenders to the ball, took on FGCU goalie Mathew Smith one-on-one and shot a blast from 25 yards out for the goal. Marshall added to the Rebel lead in the 40th minute, when Jonny Espinoza chipped a pass to the far right side of the box. Marshall came into the box untouched and tapped the ball in for the score, his sixth of the year.
The Eagles would get on the scoreboard just before the end of the first half when Andres Navas' corner kick found the head of Westin Vallentine, who redirected it into the goal to make the score 3-1 in the 44th minute. With UNLV holding back on offense in the second half, FGCU turned up the attack and came up with a second goal in the 84th minute. Once again it was from Vallentine following a flury of shots in the goal. With UNLV goalkeeper Roland Swanson knocked down to the ground, Vallentine took advantage by scoring from five yards out to bring the Eagles within 3-2. UNLV's defenders would hold off for the final six minutes to earn the victory for the team.
Swanson finished the game with two saves, while Smith was also credited with two saves for the Eagles. FGCU held a 13-10 edge on shots, and the Rebels owned a 5-2 advantage on corner kicks.
UNLV returns to action on Sunday, Sept. 27, when it travels to Los Angeles to face No. 12 UCLA at 5 pm.
