Oct. 14, 2012
Box Score
LAS VEGAS (UNLVRebels.com) - Thanks to a pair of second-half goals, UNLV snapped New Mexico's 17-game conference unbeaten streak with a 2-0 Senior Day victory on Sunday afternoon in Mountain West women's soccer action at Peter Johann Memorial Field. By handing the Lobos their first regular season loss in conference play since Oct. 23, 2009, the Rebels improved to 10-3-2, and 2-1-1 in league play, good enough for a three-way tie for second place in the league. UNM dropped to 8-5-1, and 2-1-1 in the conference as well. Fresno State is the third team involved in the tie in the conference standings.
"I'm delighted for the seniors, and for the whole team as well," said UNLV head coach Michael Coll of the win, the first over New Mexico in the last six meetings. "Not only did we shut down their win streak, it was also big to break their streak against us as well. We played them tough in the first half, and just did a better job in the second half of taking advantage of our chances."
It was a tightly contested game the entire afternoon. The first half saw only three shots taken, all by the Lobos but were easily saved by UNLV goalkeeper Kylie Wassell. The Rebels started to push up the attack in the second half, and nearly earned a score early after the second half start when Jenn Wolfe took a close in pass from Macy Jo Harrison, but pushed her shot just a little wide to the left. A few minutes later Harrison again dribbled deep into the box. This time she kept it herself, taking the ball down the left side, powering herself between two defenders and then unleashing a low shot from five yards out cross cage to the right post. That put UNLV up by a 1-0 score on Harrison's fourth goal of the season in the 57th minute.
UNLV added a second goal five minutes later. Freshman Susie Bernal started this scoring play, sending a through ball ahead to a streaking Wolfe. UNM goalkeeper Kelli Cornell came out to challenge the ball, but Wolfe would shoot past her from 15 yards out for the score, putting the Rebels up 2-0 in the 62nd minute. It was Wolfe's team-leading 11th goal of the season. The Rebel defense held strong the rest of the way, as New Mexico was limited to just two shots total the entire second half, and only one on goal.
The game finished with both teams taking five shots each, while New Mexico took all four corner kicks. Wassell posted four saves to earn her seventh shutout of the season, a new career high, and her fourth in the past five games.
UNLV will finish the regular season with three straight on the road, beginning with a Friday night contest at Nevada, Reno, beginning at 7 pm. That game is also part of the Governor's Series competition between the two in-state rivals.
