Box Score

EDINBURG, Texas (UNLVRebels.com) -

	UNLV Rebels (4-8, 2-1)	UTRGV Soccer Complex Field FINAL 1-2	UTRGV (3-5-2, 1-1-1)
Velazquez `45			Kosmidis '45, Lopez `90

A stunning score that deflected off a UNLV defender into the goal with just four seconds left sent the Rebels to their first loss in conference play, 2-1 at UTRGV on Thursday night in WAC men's soccer action. The loss dropped UNLV to 2-1 in league play, 4-8 overall, while UTRGV improved to 3-5-2, 1-1-1 in the WAC.

After a pair of goals in the final minute of the first half, the game looked destined for overtime as both teams were held scoreless for the first 44 minutes with the Rebels struggling to find shots against the UTRGV backed up defense. One key play in the second half was when Danny Musovski was whistled for a yellow card with 70:49 on the clock. The clock did not start back up following the restart of play for 60 seconds, and that would come to affect the winning score.

Alex Ochoa was lined up with the Rebel backline in the final seconds when he was fed a pass, and he dribbled down the left side before sending a short ball to Angel Lopez, who would kick a low shot from the baseline. UNLV goalkeeper Enrique Adame looked to be in position for the stop, but a Rebel defender attempted to block the ball and instead redirected it past Adame into the goal for the score, with the scoreboard reading 89:56.

"I are very disappointed in tonight's performance," said UNLV Head Coach Rich Ryerson. "We knew they would use this defensive tactic and tried to prepare for it, but it worked against us last year, and did again this year. We have to turn it around and pick it up on Saturday morning."

The first half was played much as the second half was, with no scoring in the final minute. UTRGV posted the first goal when Illias Kosmidis collected a pass from Damian Roszczky on the right side, and shot a low ball to the left post for the score with 44:14 on the clock. However, on the following kickoff for UNLV, Timo Mehlich tapped the ball to Oscar Velazquez, who launched a shot from midfield that lofted all the way to the goal. UTRGV goalkeeper Esa Aalto attempted to stop the shot but it deflected off his hand, up to the crossbar, and landed just over the goaline before bouncing back, giving the Rebels a tying score.

UNLV finished the game with a 9-8 edge on shots, and 5-4 on shots on goal. Corner kicks were also in favor of the Rebels at 5-2. Adame finished with two saves for the Rebels, and Aalto posted four for UTRGV.

The Rebels are back in action on Saturday, in a game that has been moved from its original time of 5 pm (PT) to 10 am (PT) at Incarnate Word in San Antonio.