Oct. 28, 2015

LAS VEGAS (UNLVRebels.com) -

UNLV women's soccer will face Nevada, Reno at home on Friday night at 7:00 p.m. in the final Mountain West game of the season for both teams.

Weekly Release

Postseason Implications

The Rebels currently sit in a four-way tie in fifth place in the conference West with one game remaining in the regular season with Utah State, Boise State and Colorado College. The top six in the conference advance to the conference tournament that begins Tuesday, Nov. 3 in San Diego, Calif. The Rebels can advance and not advance regardless if they win against Nevada, Reno. Here are the scenarios for a win and loss for UNLV to advance:

• Win (18 pts) - In the MW Tournament with losses by Wyoming, Boise State or CC. In the MW Tournament with a Wyoming win and a loss by either Boise State or CC. (UNLV would finish first in a three-way tiebreaker over Utah State and CC, but would finish third in a three-way tiebreaker vs. Boise State and CC)
• Loss (15 pts) - In the MW Tournament if Fresno State, Utah State and Colorado College lose. (Holds three-way tiebreaker vs. Utah State and CC)

Senior Night

Four graduating seniors, Jodi Barber, Nicole Candioglos, Denali Murnan and Samantha Weber, will be honored before the game at the last home contest of their UNLV careers.

After transferring from Barton College, Barber made an immediate impact. In her first year as a Rebel she posted a pair of goals, played in 18 games and made 14 starts. Known for her ability to strike a ball very well, Jodi is the team's leading scorer this season with a total of 6 goals. She will graduate with a degree in kinesiology in 2016.

Candioglos has been an integral part of the team over the past 4 years. Playing in 17 games last season and 18 this season, her hard-work and commitment has allowed her to be an anchoring force in the midfield. She will graduate with a degree in hospitality management in 2016.

Murnan was a two-sport athlete for most of her career, competing for UNLV on the women's soccer and basketball teams. In the 2014 season she led the team in scoring with 12 points off of 4 goals and 4 assists. She was the only member of the team to earn post-season honors, being named to the Second-Team All Mountain West team. A captain of the team, she graduated with her undergraduate degree in Finance in May 2015 and is currently working toward completing her master's degree.

Weber is a two-year captain for the Rebels. She has started all but 2 games of her entire career. Sam has anchored the defensive efforts from the backline. In the 2012 season she helped the defense post a school- record of 10 shutouts. She scored the first goal of her career this year against New Mexico in a 3-1 victory. She has been a force academically as well, being named to the CoSIDA Academic All-District Second Team in 2013. She graduated in May 2015 with her degree in Kinesiology and is currently working toward completing her master's degree.

Promotions

Friday night's game will be a Red Out. All fans are encouraged to wear red clothing as half priced tickets will be given for those in red. There will be several giveaways and activities with a Halloween theme. Free trick or treat pumpkin backpacks will be given to the first 100 kids. There will be Halloween themed music before and during the game. The Rebel Starzz will perform a Halloween dance performance at halftime as well. All-Time Series UNLV is 7-1-3 all-time against Nevada, Reno. In home games, the Rebels have outscored the Wolfpack 23-2 at home for a 5-0-0 record. Last year the two teams played to a 1-1 tie in Reno on Oct. 31.

All About the Rebels

UNLV looks to end the regular season on a four game-winning streak in Mountain West action when it faces Nevada, Reno at home at Peter Johann Memorial Field on Friday night. The Rebels went 2-0 last weekend, defeating San Jose State on Friday 1-0 and Fresno State 2-1 on Sunday. Redshirt-senior Denali Murnan scored the lone goal of the game in the 41st minute to defeat the Spartans. The Rebels used two goals in the first half to beat the Bulldogs. Sophomore defender Chidera Akubuilo converted a penalty kick in the 24th minute to give UNLV the lead for good, and junior forward Brittney Gideon added another goal in the 32nd minute. Sophomore goalkeeper Jessie Clark withstood a flurry of 22 shots by Fresno State in the second half to allow UNLV to win both games in California. With the win, the Rebels improved to 4-0 on Sunday games in October.

Six different players have scored at least two goals this season (five players have scored one goal) in a balanced attack for UNLV with senior forward Jodi Barber leading the way. Barber has six goals and 14 points and started in 12 straight games. Gideon and Murnan have also chipped in four goals apiece. Redshirt-junior Susie Bernal has successfully bounced back from missing 2014 with a knee injury with eight points, and all three goals scored have been game-winners. Murnan, a returning all-conference selection, has served as a creator in her midfield position. With five assists this season Murnan's 13 career assists rank her tied for fifth on the all-time career assist leaders at UNLV, and Bernal is close behind her in eighth place with 11. Clark has started the last eight games in net for the Rebels and has recorded three shutouts in that span for a 5-2-0 record. In eight games this season Clark has a 1.32 goals against average, .804 save percentage and 45 saves.

Scouting Nevada, Reno

Nevada, Reno sits in 10th place in the conference and is eliminated from the conference tournament with a 6-10-2, 3-6-1 record. The Wolf Pack were shut out on its trip to California last weekend, losing to Fresno State 1-0 on Friday and 2-0 San Jose State on Sunday. Nevada, Reno has a 1-5-0, 0-4-0 record on the road, defeating UC Davis 2-0 in nonconference action on Sept. 11. They have not scored a goal in road conference games.

Senior midfielder Lindsey Salcido leads Nevada, Reno in scoring with six goals and 15 points. Freshman midfielder Hannah Miller ranks second with four goals and eight points. Salcido and Miller have combined for over 43% of goals scored for the Wolf Pack. Senior forward Erin Saxton is the only other player to score more than one goal. Junior goalkeeper Kelsey Qunitos has played every minute in net for Nevada, Reno. Quintos has a goals against average of 1.23, 78 saves, three shutouts and a .772 save percentage.