Sept. 22, 2013

Box Score

RIVERSIDE, Calif. (UNLVRebels.com) - For the second time in three days, the UNLV men's soccer team took on an undefeated opponent on the road and came up short by a 2-1 score, and this time it was at UC Riverside on Sunday night from the UC Riverside Soccer Stadium. The Rebels fell to 2-5 with the setback, while UCR moved to 5-0-2 on the season.

The Highlanders scored an early goal, coming in the third minute for a 1-0 lead. Aaron Long scored the goal for UCR when he one-timed in a shot off a free kick from Eric Gonzalez. The lead increased to two off another set piece, this time following a corner kick by Hector Romo. Hayden Leslie would head the ball into the net, making it a 2-0 lead in the 16th minute.

Both teams finished with five shots each in the first half, and the game went into halftime at 2-0. UNLV stepped up its attack in the second half, taking a total of 12 shots (to nine for UCR). One of those shots paid off in the 64th minute, with sophomore Rodrigo Fuentes notching his fourth goal of the season. Salvador Bernal assisted on the score, which came in the 64th to cut the lead to 2-1. The Rebels kept the pressure on UCR goalkeeper KC John, but the Highlander made five of his six saves in the second half to keep UNLV from a tying score.

UNLV finished the night with a 17-14 edge on shots, 7-6 on shots on goal. Ryan Harding made four saves in goal for UNLV. Corner kicks were 7-6 in favor of UCR.

The Rebels close out their non-conference schedule by hosting Sacramento State on Saturday, Sept. 28 at 7 pm at Peter Johann Field.