Nov. 9, 2016 LAS VEGAS (UNLVRebels.com) -
UNLV First Round NotesUNLV comes into this week's WAC Men's Soccer Tournament as the fourth overall seed thanks to its 5-4-1 league mark, and that has the Rebels setup for a match with fifth-seed UTRGV in the first round on Thursday at 5 pm (PT) at Clyde Field on the campus of tournament host and top-seed Utah Valley. A win on Thursday would advance the Rebels to the semifinals on Friday for the third straight year, and set up a rematch of the 2015 semifinal contest between UNLV and Utah Valley, won by the Wolverines 1-0.
However, to accomplish that the Rebels will have to get past a team they have struggled with the past two years. In UTRGV's first two seasons in the WAC, it has posted a pair of upsets over the Rebels, most notably in 2015 with a 1-0 win kept UNLV from a potential national ranking the next week. This season's game was also noteworthy, as UTRGV scored on a controversial goal with just four seconds left for a 2-1 victory in Edinburg, Texas back in October.
While the Rebels are expecting a defensive-minded approach from UTRGV on Thursday, one advantage for UNLV is its strength on offense, as it ranks 24th in the nation in total points and goals, and they were the only team in the WAC to not be shutout in a league game this season.
All of the games in this week's WAC Tournament will be streamed live on the WAC Digital Network, available online on UNLVRebels.com.
GAME TWENTY
WAC FIRST ROUND
#4 UNLV (7-11-1) vs. #5 UTRGV (6-8-3)
Thursday, Nov. 10 - 5 pm (PT) - Orem, Utah (Clyde Field)
