Sept. 4, 2009
Box Score
LAS VEGAS - The UNLV men's soccer team suffered a stunning loss on Friday night, as Central Arkansas' Josephn Cervantes scored two goals in the final five minutes of the game, including the game-winner with 49 seconds left, to rally the Bears to a 3-2 victory. The loss for the Rebels, which came in the second game of the UNLV Nike Invitational from Peter Johann Memorial Field, dropped their record to 1-1 in the team's home opener. UCA improved to 2-0 on the season.
The Rebels looked to be in control for most of the night, beginning with the game's first goal in the 22nd minute. Freshman Nick Marshall came off the bench and scored from five yards out after receiving a cross from the left side from classmate Roberto Farfan. The game would be tied seven minutes later though when the Bears sent the ball into the box in front of the Rebel goal, and it was redirected into the goal by a UNLV defender for an own goal after his failed attempt to clear the ball.
With the score tied, it was up to the Marshall-Farfan connection once again. This time Farfan sent a long pass to the middle of the field that Marshall outraced UCA goalkeeper Patxi Shortsleeve to, and tapped it in from 15 yards out into the open net for his third goal of the year. The score put UNLV up 2-1 in the 56th minute, and the Rebels would hold that lead for the next 30 minutes of the game.
UNLV could not come up with an insurance goal however, and that would come back to doom the Rebels when a defender was called for a yellow card just outside the box. That set up a free kick for the Bears, and after the ball was sent into the middle of the box, Cervantes came up with it and blasted a shot into the goal from 10 yards out to tie the game at 2-2 in the 86th minute. With the game looking like it would go into overtime, the Bears had one last chance for a score when they sent in a long pass into the box. Rebel goalkeeper Roland Swanson came out in an attempt to grab the ball, but Cervantes got there first and headed the ball over Swanson and into the net for the game-winner with just 49 seconds left on the clock.
UCA would finish the game with an 8-7 edge on shots. Swanson was credited with one save in goal while Shortsleeve finished with four.
The Rebels will finish play in the UNLV Nike Invitational on Sunday. The schedule for Sunday's games has been changed as well, with both games being moved back one hour. Central Arkansas and UC Davis will now play at 10 am, while UNLV and Robert Morris will face off at 12 pm.
