Aug. 29, 2014

Box Score

PEORIA, Ill. (UNLVRebels.com) - Senior defender Connor Coletti scored his first career goal just under two minutes into overtime to give the UNLV men's soccer team a 2-1 season-opening victory over Western Illinois on Friday afternoon. The win, which came in the first game of the Bradley Soccer Hotels at Grand Prairie Classic at Shea Stadium, gave the Rebels their first season-opener victory since the 2009 season.

The Rebels went on the scoreboard first, taking a 1-0 lead in the 19th minute on a blast from 18 yards out from junior midfielder Rodrigo Fuentes. Corey Ackley started the play for UNLV when he came up with the ball following a Leatherneck turnover, and he fed a pass to Fuentes, who slotted a shot that went through goalkeeper Yves Dietrich for the score. The game then went into a 57-minute weather delay due to lighting in the area before resuming action mid-way through the first half.

UNLV ended the half with the 1-0 lead, and held a 6-3 edge on shots. The advantage was 9-6 in favor of the Rebels in the second half, though it was Western Illinois who found the back of the net. The Leathernecks score came early in the second half, on a goal by Armel Kouassi in the 48th minute on a shot from the right flank. Ben Fiddes assisted on the goal, which tied the game at 1-1. Though UNLV held the shot edge in the second half, it was Rebel goalkeeper Ryan Harding that was tested in the second stanza, coming up with three saves to ensure the contest would go into overtime.

The winning score came following a scramble for the ball following a free kick. The ball came out to to Coletti, who hit a shot from six yards out for the golden goal in the 92nd minute (91:57). UNLV finished the game with a 16-9 overall edge on shots, and 6-2 on corner kicks.

UNLV will return to action on Sunday, taking on the host Bradley Braves at 12:30 pm.