Oct. 26, 2014 HOUSTON (UNLVRebels.com) -
Box Score
For the second time this season UNLV rallied back from a 2-0 deficit to claim a victory as senior defender Connor Coletti scored in the 86th minute to give the Rebels a 3-2 victory at Houston Baptist in WAC men's soccer action Sunday afternoon at Sorrels Field. The win improved the Rebels to 12-3-1 overall, the most wins in a season since 2002, while they moved to 6-1 in league play to remain alone in first place.
The six wins in WAC play are the most conference wins for the Rebels since 1991. It was also the second road sweep of the league schedule for UNLV after a 3-2 win at Incarnate Word on Friday night, while it was the fifth road win overall of the year, a feat last accomplished by UNLV in 1991 as well.
Houston Baptist (2-8-2, 1-5 WAC) took a 2-0 lead in the first half, starting with a goal by George Kelly in the 28th minute off a corner kick from Thilo Borgmann. With time winding down in the first half, the Huskies just sneaked in a goal when Patrick Toh stole the ball and scored to the far corner with just one second left on the clock. That put HBU ahead 2-0 going into the break.
UNLV kept the pressure up in the second half, and would get on the scoreboard in the 61st minute thanks to the play of senior Salvador Bernal, who took a shot at the goal that was stopped by a handball by HBU's Corey Lutz. Bernal would bury the resulting penalty kick, his eighth goal of the year, while Lutz received a red card, leaving the Huskies down a player. The Rebels took advantage by quickly scoring the equalizer barely two minutes later. This one came off a corner kick from Bradley Kamdem that Kyle Mellies headed into the goal in the 63rd minute.
The Huskies would receive another red card in the 82nd minute after a second yellow on Kelly. That would be too much for the home team to withstand as they were now down two players, and UNLV made them pay in the 86th minute on Coletti's second game-winner of the season. Bernal set up the play when he passed the ball over to his classmate, and Coletti buried a shot to the top right corner.
UNLV outshot HBU 18-5 in the second half, and 24-17 for the afternoon. That included an 11-6 edge on shots on goal. Corner kicks were four for each team. Ryan Harding posted two saves in the net for UNLV, while the Rebels were also credited with a pair of team saves. Kevin Suarez finished with seven saves for the Huskies.
"I'm so happy for our guys as they raised their level of intensity and determination to win a game coming from two goals down," said UNLV head coach Rich Ryerson. "We always speak of developing character in our players, and today I saw a maturity in the guys I haven't seen since becoming the head coach."
"To get two wins on the road this weekend and earn six points, that's a very difficult task that we were able to pull off, and we showed great character today. We will need that as we right for a position in the NCAA Tournament."
UNLV returns to Las Vegas for its final two home games of the season, and a chance to at least clinch a share of its first conference regular season championship since 1987. The Rebels begin by hosting Bakersfield in a Halloween night contest, Friday at 7 pm, while closing out with Senior Day Sunday on Nov. 2 at 1 pm against San Jose State. For the Senior Day game, the first 300 fans will receive a UNLV Rebel Soccer drawstring backpack. Also, any fan with a football ticket from UNLV Nov. 1 game against New Mexico will receive free admission.
