Oct. 20, 2010
LAS VEGAS (UNLVRebels.com) -
UNLV Weekly Soccer Notes
For the final time, the UNLV women's soccer team will play a Mountain West Conference contest against BYU and Utah, and the Rebels will face the two schools this week before they both leave the league following the end of the season. UNLV first meets BYU on Thursday night at 6 pm (PT) in Provo, in a game televised live by BYU-TV. Saturday will see the Rebels play Utah in Salt Lake City.
UNLV would love nothing more then to claim wins over both teams in the final MWC games between the two, but it'll be a tough task as BYU comes in as the 14th-ranked team in the nation, while Utah has always played tough against UNLV in Salt Lake City, the last UNLV win coming in the 2004 season.
This week is also big for UNLV in terms of the league standings. A win would assure UNLV of a spot in the 2010 MWC tournament, as the Rebels currently have six points to stand in fifth, while Utah is fourth with seven points. Only the top six teams advance to the postseason tournament.
One advantage for UNLV against Utah is the Rebels' offense, as they are near the top of the league in scoring with 2.13 goals per game. Utah meanwhile is dead last with just 0.71 goals per game.
Players To Watch
Senior forward Ashleigh Shoughro returned to her scoring form from her sophomore season, as she currently leads the Mountain West in both goals (13) and points (29), and ranks in the top 10 in the nation in both. Three more players also have at least 10 points this year, senior Amanda Forrester (six goals, three assists, 15 points), sophomore Colette Jepson (five goals, three assists, 13 points), and sophomore Macy Jo Harrison (three goals, four assists, 10 points).
In goal for UNLV is freshman keeper Kylie Wassell, who has a 1.37 GAA, 49 saves and three shutouts on the year.
Scouting BYU
The Cougars saw their five-game win streak snapped on Saturday at Albuquerque in a 1-0 overtime loss, but still come into Thursday as the 14th-ranked team in the nation. The defense has been giving up goals though, and two of the wins were by a one-goal margin 2-1 against Air Force, 1-0 at TCU.
Pacing BYU this season is Kassidy Shumway with 17 points (six goals, five assists), while Jennie Marshall has 16 off seven goals and two assists. The Cougars goalkeeper is McKenzie Olson, and she holds a 0.47 GAA with 51 saves and six shutouts in 2010.
Scouting Utah
The Utes have struggled this year with one of its worst records in years, coming into this weekend at 4-12-1. Utah has done better in MWC play with a 2-1-1 mark, which includes a 3-2 overtime win at TCU this past Saturday afternoon.
Leading the team is Lauren Hair with 11 points off four goals and three assists. Next is Erin Dailey with seven points (three goals, one assist). In goal for Utah is Hannah Turpen, with a 1.97 GAA and 79 saves in 1,327:13 minutes of action.
More Records Fall
Thanks to a two-goal performance on her Senior Day against Air Force on Oct. 16, senior forward Ashleigh Shoughro broke a total of three UNLV records. She broke her own school record for goals in a season (now at 13), set a new school record for points in a season (29), and became UNLV's all-time goal scorer with 26. She is six points away from the career points mark of 68.
Next Time Out
UNLV closes out the regular season on Friday, Oct. 29, with a road contest at San Diego State at 3 pm.
