Sept. 24, 2014 LAS VEGAS (UNLVRebels.com) - After suffering both its first loss of the season and seeing its NCAA-leading shutout streak come to an end, the UNLV men's soccer look to get back on track this weekend as it hosts fourth-ranked UC Irvine and UC Riverside in the Rebel Classic at Peter Johann Memorial Field. UNLV and UCI will play on Friday at 7 pm, while the Rebels and the Highlanders face off on Sunday at 1 pm. Utah Valley is the fourth team in the field.
Friday's game will be a matchup between two of the top records in the nation, as the 5-1-1 Rebels and the 6-0-1 Anteaters square off for the first time since 2011. UNLV has yet to allow a goal on its home field this season, while UCI has given up five goals in its last three road games this season, two of which went to overtime.
Tickets are $8 for adults, while children 12 and under are always free to UNLV soccer games. The construction at the soccer facility that impacted the parking for the first month has been completed as well, and the newly expanded parking space will be available for the rest of the season starting this Friday.
Both of UNLV's games in the UNLV Rebel Classic will have a live video stream and Gametracker available, which can be accessed at UNLVRebels.com.
UNLV Rebel ClassicUNLV vs. UC Irvine (Friday, 7 pm)Live Video - UNLVRebels.com/videos
Live Stats - Gametracker (UNLVRebels.com)
UNLV vs. UC Riverside (Sunday, 1 pm)Live Video - UNLVRebels.com/videos
Live Stats - Gametracker (UNLVRebels.com)
UNLV Weekly ReleaseAll About The Rebels The Rebels hope an upset over UCI could lead to a return to the national rankings. UNLV was No. 23 (Soccer America) dropping out with its loss at Gonzaga this past Saturday, in which they had to play the final 60 minutes with just 10 players. UNLV is hosting a top-10 team for the first time since Oct. 1, 2011, against No. 9 New Mexico (2-1 loss). UNLV brings in a high powered offense, led by senior forward
Salvador Bernal, who leads the conference and is fourth in the nation with six goals. In goal for the Rebels is
Ryan Harding, the preseason WAC Defensive Player of the Year, while senior defender
Kyle Mellies has been a key factor in helping the Rebels post four shutouts this season.
Scouting #4 UC Irvine The Anteaters have their highest ever ranking of No. 4 by NSCAA coming into this weekend, as they are undefeated through seven matches at 6-0-1. That includes strong wins over Denver and Clemson and a tie at No. 6 Georgetown. UC Irvine has been tested though, with its past three contests having gone to overtime, the last two a 3-2 win at Loyola Marymount and a 1-0 win home win over San Diego on Sunday.
While four players have scored at least two goals this year, Eduardo Calzada leads the way with four goals and nine total points. Gor Kirakosyan and Dennis Martinez both have three goals each for UCI. In the goal is Michael Breslin, who boasts a 0.95 GAA and two shutouts in 2014.
Scouting UC Riverside The Highlanders are looking for their first win since the season opener when it topped Pacific 5-1. Since then UC Riverside lost its next four games, three by just one goal, before claiming a 0-0 tie with San Diego. Michael Salazar has almost half the team's goals, three to go along with one assist for seven points. Juan Mendoza is next with two goals, and two players have one each. Ashkan Khosravi is in goal for the Highlanders and has a 1.28 GAA and one shutout.
Next Time Out The Rebels will break until Sunday, Oct. 5, with its WAC season opener against Grand Canyon in a 1 pm contest at Johann Field.
