Sept. 5, 2014 Box Score
LAS VEGAS (UNLVRebels.com) - UNLV was in control from start to finish on Friday night, holding IPFW to just two total shots on the way to a 4-0 shutout victory in men's college soccer action at Peter Johann Memorial Field. The Rebels are now 3-0 for the first time since 2008, while the Mastodons dropped to 1-1-1 on the year with the loss in the second game of the Johann Memorial Classic.
"We want to set a standard at Peter Johann Memorial where we play with confidence, we play fast, we play hard and we play to win," said UNLV head coach Rich Ryerson. "With IPFW's gameplan tonight of a more defensive focus, we were able to get in the way of their counter attacks on offense. I was happy with how we defended, shutouts are not easy to come by in college soccer."
While the final shot total was 15-2 in favor of UNLV, it was even more pronounced in the first half, in which IPFW had only one scoring chance, and the Rebels kept the attack on the Mastodons almost the entire opening 45 minutes. That pressure paid off early, when Rodrigo Fuentes' free kick was stopped by a team save on the goalline. Corey Ackley was there to clean up the rebound, tapping the ball in from close range for the score in the sixth minute for his first goal of the year.
The lead grew to 2-0 in the 40th minute when Julian Portugal drove the ball down the right side and sent a cross over the front of the goal. Andy Rodriguez flew into the box and headed the ball hard to the right side of the post for the score.
The second half was more of the same story, and the Rebels were able to empty their bench, playing a total of 21 players after posting two more scores for a 4-0 advantage. Both goals of the second half came in a two-minute spurt, starting with Salvador Bernal's fourth goal of the season. The leading scorer in the WAC, Bernal tracked down a through pass from Danny Musovski and took on Mastodon goalkeeper Cody Schweitzer one-on-one. Bernal was able to draw Schweitzer out of the goal. After a missed lunge at the ball by Schweitzer, Bernal reset himself and shot cross cage to the right side of the empty net, making the score 3-0 in the 59th minute.
Rodriguez finished off the scoring with the first multi-goal game of his career. This final score came following a scramble for the ball around 15 yards from the box. The ball came out to Rodriguez, who quickly resent it back into the net for the score in the 61st minute. That gave him two goals on the night after entering the game with one career goal.
"Andy came in strong tonight with two goals off the bench," said Ryerson. "We tell the guys when it's their turn they have to be ready to play, and it was fantastic to see Andy's success tonight."
Ryan Harding was only needed to make one save to earn the sixth shutout of his career. Schweitzer meanwhile had one save on the six shots on goal from the Rebels. UNLV held a 5-2 edge on corner kicks as well.
The Rebels will close out action in the Johann Memorial Classic on Sunday at 1 pm against Howard at Johann Field.
