LAS VEGAS (UNLVRebels.com) -

	UNLV Rebels (5-2-1)	Johann Field in Las Vegas FINAL 2-4	#4 UC Irvine Anteaters (7-0-1)
Julien Dragomir '62, Danny Musovski '74			Gor Kirakosyan '18, Dennis Martinez '22, Gerardo Gonzalez '65, Cameron Iwasa '86

UNLV gave fourth-ranked UC Irvine all it could handle, but an early 2-0 deficit was too much to overcome as the Rebels were handed a 4-2 loss on Friday night in the UNLV Rebel Classic men's soccer tournament at Peter Johann Memorial Field. The four goals were the first allowed by UNLV on its home field this season, and send the Rebels to 5-2-1 on the year. The Anteaters meanwhile remained undefeated at 7-0-1. The game was delayed by 90 minutes at the start due to lightning in the area.

"UC Irvine is a very strong team and the goals they did get were good finishes," said UNLV head coach Rich Ryerson. "Our defense had to be better in the first half. I felt our play on defense in the second half led to our two goals. But you can't give up four goals and expect to win."

The game was fairly even over the first 15 minutes with both teams testing the other's defenses. The Anteaters started to take control offensively, keeping possession on the Rebels' third for the next 10 minutes. That led to a pair of goals in a four-minute span. The first score of the game came in the 18th minute when Eduardo Calzada sent a short pass into the box that Gor Kirakosyan quickly shot into the near right post from 10 yards out. That put UCI up by a 1-0 score.

The lead grew to 2-0 in the 22nd minute when Dennis Martinez unleashed a shot from the middle of the box that was saved. However the rebound came right back to him and he sent it towards the right side of the goal. That would be the halftime score as well. The Rebels started to make their own push on offense and would end up taking the same amount of shots in the half as the Anteaters, seven, it would not result in a Rebel goal.

UNLV made its run in the second half, twice cutting the edge to one goal. The first time came in the 62nd minute when Salvador Bernal sent in a cross from the left side to Julien Dragomir, who chipped in a shot from close range to make the score 2-1. However, the Anteaters quickly responded, going back up 3-1 off a score from Gerardo Gonzalez when he drove down the middle unmarked before unleashing a 25-yard shot that was just over the reach of Rebel goalkeeper Ryan Harding.

Again UNLV scored to close within a goal. This time the score came from freshman Danny Mosovski, his first of the year. Julian Portugal set up the score when he sent in a long pass on the left sideline to Musovski, who went down the left side and into the box. As he closed in on the goal, he shot through the charging UCI keeper and to the right side of the goal for the score, making it a 3-2 contest in the 74th minute.

The Rebels kept pushing for a tying goal, until the Anteaters put the game away in the 86th minute on a score by Noah Gaines from 10 yards out, after Cameron Iwasa stole the ball at midfield and sent in a long pass. Gaines' score would account for the final 4-2 margin.

"Julien and Danny did a great job for us tonight," said Ryerson of his two goal scorers. "I was very happy for Danny getting his first goal. For Julien, it was a well deserved goal, think that was the best he's played for us all year

UNLV would finish the game with a 12-11 edge on shots, and 7-6 on shots on goal. The Rebels also held the advantage on corner kicks, 3-2. Harding finished with one save, while Michael Breslin made five for the Anteaters.

The next game for UNLV will be on Sunday at 1 pm against UC Riverside in the final game of the Rebel Classic, played at Johann Field.