Nov. 9, 2011

LAS VEGAS (UNLVRebels.com) - Forward Salvador Bernal of UNLV was named the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation Men's Soccer Newcomer of the Year, the league announced on Wednesday. The MPSF also announced its all-conference teams, and three Rebels were selected.

Bernal, a freshman from Las Vegas, becomes the second Rebel to earn conference newcomer honors after leading the team in scoring this year with six goals (tied for sixth in the MPSF) and 14 points on the season, which ranked him in a tie for 11th. His best game came against Denver on October 16 at Peter Johann Field, where he scored two second half goals in a 2-minute span to help the Rebels rally from a two-goal deficit, before eventually falling in overtime. He scored two more goals in conference play, including the first goal of the game against No. 9 New Mexico in a 2-1 loss, and the first goal in UNLV's 3-2 win at Seattle.

Bernal's six goals were double the second-place scorers on the team, while he was tied for second in assists with two. He was also named to the All-MPSF First Team. Joining him in receiving season honors were junior midfielder Jonny Espinoza, named to the second team for the second straight year, and junior forward Nick Marshall, who earned honorable mention honors. Espinoza, a native of Carlsbad, Calif., and Marshall, from Tuscon, Ariz., both tied for second on the team with three goals each. Espinoza added three assists for nine points, second-best on the team, while Marshall posted two assists for eight points on the season.