Sept. 6, 2010
Box Score
LAS VEGAS - UNLV finished with its highest goal scoring performance in over 20 years as the Rebels men's soccer team crushed Alabama A&M 8-1 on Sunday afternoon in the final game of the UNLV Nike Invitational from Peter Johann Memorial Field. The win gave Rebels' head coach Rich Ryerson his first career victory, UNLV moving to 1-1 on the year. The Bulldogs dropped to 0-2 in 2010.
The eight goals and the seven-goal win margin were the most for UNLV since an 11-1 win over San Jose State on Oct. 23, 1998. The scoring started early for the Rebels, as senior forward Stephen Sifuentes notched the game's first goal just over two minutes into the contest, knocking in a rebounded save off a shot from Mike Mota. Just over two minutes later Sifuentes would add to the lead, tapping in a short cross from Nick Marshall in the fifth minute for a 2-0 lead.
Marshall then got in on the action, scoring a pair of goals just 19 seconds apart, both in the 27th minute, to make the score 4-0. Sam Nicholson and Robert Garcia assisted on the first, while Marshall stole a pass and scored unassisted on his second tally. Garcia scored on a cross from Angelo Soro in the 42nd minute for a 5-0 UNLV lead at halftime.
A pair of freshman notched the first two goals of the second half, with Joaquin Rivas scoring on a cross from Sifuentes in the 67th minute. Sifuentes also assisted on the next score, a through ball to Mendoza, who then drove into the box and shot through the goalie for a score in the 70th minute, putting UNLV up 7-0.
Alabama A&M got on the scoreboard in the 76th minute, as after Rebel goalkeeper Simon Cook came out to challenge a shot, Abraham Kassaye was able to get around him and scored on the empty goal. The Rebels countered a minute later with their last score, a breakaway by Camilo Valencia that resulted in his first career score. Soro also assisted on the goal, which came in the 77th minute.
Cook made two saves in goal for UNLV, while Rashad Hammonds finished with nine saves for the Bulldogs. UNLV held a 32-6 edge on shots, 18-3 on shots on goal, and 11-0 on corner kicks.
The Rebels return to action this weekend as they will compete in the Cal Legacy Classic. UNLV will first take on Stanford in Palo Alta, Calif., at 2 pm on Friday, Sept. 10, and close out against California on Sunday, Sept. 12 at 2 pm in Berkeley.
