Box Score

UNLV scored a pair of early goals and survived giving up an own goal to claim a 2-1 victory over Northern Arizona in Chris Shaw's debut as the Rebels' head coach on Friday night in women's college soccer action at Johann Memorial Field. The game was the second of the UNLV Rebel Classic, and UNLV will close out the event on Sunday at 1 pm against Grand Canyon, who lost to UC Riverside 3-0 in the day's first contest.

"Ultimately I'm very happy with the win, anytime you start the season off with a win it's a big positive," said Shaw. "I felt like we possessed the ball well and we created a lot of scoring chances. I'm disappointed we didn't get a few more goals but we're still coming together as a unit. I was happy how we played defensively and with the opportunities we created on offense. Now we need to work on finishing those opportunities."

The Rebels dominated the possession time for the majority of the night, most notably in the second half with the ball. However both UNLV scores actually came in the first 28 minutes of the game. The first goal of the season was provided by junior midfielder Addy Guida when she ran into the box and kicked in a pass from the baseline to the far right post. Brittney Gideon assisted on the score, which came in the 19th minute and put UNLV ahead 1-0.

UNLV struck again just nine minutes later, on a scoring play started by a foul against the Lumberjacks. Jordan Magnin took the free kick from 35 yards out on the right side, and her kick landed in the middle of the box where it was headed towards the goal by sophomore Isabelle Delgado. NAU goalkeeper Natalie Gilbertson stopped the shot, but sophomore Haley Wilson was there to pick up the rebound and tapped in the ball from close range for a 2-0 lead in the 28th minute. Both Magnin and Delgado were credited with assists on the score.

The shutout was lost for UNLV in the 40th minute following a failed clearance by the Rebel defenders. A high ball from the Highlanders entered the box, and caught the back heel of a Rebel defender and bounced high and backwards into the Rebel net for an own goal. That cut UNLV's edge to 2-1, and that would remain the score going into the half. The shot advantage was 6-3 in favor of the Rebels over the opening 45 minutes, and was again double in the second, 8-4 for a total shot edge of 14-7 for the home team. The extra shots did not result in a third goal, but they did keep the pressure on the Lumberjacks the entire second half.

Freshman Jordan Sallee won her first career game as the Rebels goalkeeper, posting four saves in her debut. Gilbertson finished with nine saves for the Lumberjacks. UNLV finished with a 5-2 edge on corner kicks.