It's time to take you inside for the fourth edition of the #RebelTop5. This week's historical feature spotlights the women's soccer team and its top players of the past decade (2010-19).
This was not an easy list to compile, so be sure to let us know on social media if you agree or disagree with our #RebelTop5.
And now we present the #RebelTop5 for Women's Soccer!
No. 5: Caitlin Allen, Defender (2009-12)
Allen was a four-year starter on the back line for the Rebels from 2009-12, appearing in a total of 74 games with 69 starts. The San Diego native was a stalwart on a defense that allowed just 19 total goals in her senior season in 2012, the fourth-lowest mark in UNLV history. A two-time All-Mountain West honoree, including first-team honors in 2012, Allen also earned NSCAA All-Pacific Region second team honors as a senior. She finished her career with nine points off four goals and an assist, which included a career-high two goals scored her senior campaign. Allen excelled in the classroom as well, earning three CoSIDA Academic All-District honors in her career. She returned to the program as an assistant coach during the 2013 campaign.
No. 4: Chidera Akubuilo, Defender (2014-17)
Akubuilo, a Torrance, California, native, was one of the best defenders to every play at UNLV. The four-year starter made 72 starts in 73 games played and was a two-year team captain her junior and senior seasons in 2016 and 2017, respectively. Akubuilo was a key piece of the 2016 squad that became the first team in program history to win the Mountain West regular season and tournament championships in the same year, propelling the Rebels to their first NCAA tournament appearance in a decade. The two-time Mountain West All-Conference and United Soccer Coaches Association All-Region selection became the first UNLV defender to earn Mountain West Defensive Player of the Year honors in 2016. Akubuilo is still the only player in school history to be named to the Preseason MAC Hermann Trophy Award Watch list, collegiate soccer's most prestigious award, and was the first Rebel to be named a Senior CLASS Award finalist. She scored eight goals and added two assists during her career.
BONUS NOTE: Her penalty kick in the 2016 Mountain West Tournament Championship Game against San Diego State on November 4, 2016 helped the Rebels win the shootout and advance to the NCAA tournament.
No. 3: Ashleigh Shoughro, Forward (2007-10)
While technically it was just her senior year that falls into the latest decade, former Rebel standout Ashleigh Shoughro (2007-10) is still deserving of inclusion as her best Rebel season came in 2010, capping an outstanding career. The local product out of Palo Verde High School is all over the UNLV record books, sitting atop the all-time goals list with 27 in her career and fourth in total points overall with 64 (27 goals, 10 assists). During her season season in 2010, Shoughro set a then school-record with 14 goals, while her 31 total points (14 goals, three assists) ranks third on the single-season list all-time. Shoughro was named to the Mountain West All-Conference team twice during her career (2008 & 2010) and earned NSCAA All-Region honors in each of those seasons as well. The former Rebels' 2008 season also landed her in the record books as her 11 goals rank tied for fifth and her six assists are tied for 10th all-time.
BONUS NOTE: Shoughro also turned in the top hat trick in program history, scoring four goals in a 5-2 UNLV win at home over Albany on August 27, 2010.
No. 2: Jenn Wolfe, Forward (2010-13)
Coming to Vegas from Olathe, Kansas, Wolfe worked her way into the starting lineup by her sophomore campaign in 2011 before a breakout junior season in 2012 when she scored 12 goals and tallied 26 total points, which ranks fifth all-time in program history. Her six game-winning goals in 2012 ranked seventh in the nation and set new UNLV record.That season, Wolfe was second in the MW in both goals and points, earning her NSCAA All-Far West second team honors and her first career MW honor (first team). The Rebels went 12-4-4 during the 2012 campaign, with Wolfe leading them to a Mountain West Tournament semifinal appearance. Wolfe finished her career with 22 goals and 57 points, which both rank fifth all-time.
No. 1: Lily Sender, Forward (2013-16)
Sender was the definition of making the most of a senior year. The Honolulu, Hawaii native had a breakout year for the Rebels in 2016, leading the team to the Mountain West Regular Season and Tournament Championships and the program's first NCAA tournament appearance in a decade. After registering three points in her previous three seasons combined, Sender's 15 goals and 38 points led the Mountain West Conference and set new single-season program records in both categories. The outstanding performance earned her Mountain West Offensive Player of the Year honors, becoming just the third Rebel to pick up the nod, and was the first and only player in progrm history to earn NSCAA All-American honors as well. Sender was also a Mountain West All-Conference First Team selection and a NSCAA All-Region First Team selection. She recorded goals and/or assists in all but four of the team's 23 games, which included netting the program's first hat trick since 2010 in a 4-2 Silver Series win at UNR that clinched the MW regular season title and tying a single-game assists record with three assists in a 6-0 win over Texas A&M Corpus Christi to open the season. Sender also excelled in the classroom, becoming the first player in program history to be named a CoSIDA Academic All-American and the second to garner NSCAA Scholar All-America honors.
HONORABLE MENTIONS
Sophie Cortes, Midfielder (2014-17) – Cortes developed into one of the top players in the Mountain West during her time as a Rebel. The Newhall, California, was a two-time Mountain West All-Conference First Team selection, earning the nod during junior and senior campaign in 2016-17. Her 16 career goals are tied for seventh all-time, her 49 points rank eighth all-time and her 17 assists are fifth-most in program history. Cortes was instrumental in the Rebels' 2016 Mountain West Regular Season and Tournament title sweep and subsequent NCAA tournament appearance, then turned in an outstanding senior campaign, scoring a career-high 12 goals and 32 points, which rank third and second, respectively, all-time in a single season in program history, while her eight assists that season rank fourth. She was named to the United Soccer Coaches (USC) All-West Region team at the conclusion of her final collegiate season and was also a USC Scholar All-American Second Team selection.
Susie Bernal, Midfielder/Forward (2012-16) – The Las Vegas native was also a key contributor the the 2016 double Mountain West Championship team and NCAA tournament appearance, capping in outstanding senior campaign. The year, Bernal tallied a team-best 10 assists, which is tied for the best mark in a single season in program history, earning her a Mountain West All-Conference Second Team selection. It also brought her career total to 22, which is a career-best mark for UNLV women's soccer as well, while her 50 total points (14 goals, 22 assists) rank seventh all-time.
Denali Murnan, Midfielder (2012-15) – Murnan, from Arvada, Colorado, was a two-sport athlete at UNLV, playing both women's soccer and basketball. Murnan was a standout in the midfield every season she played as she collected 15 career goals and 13 career assists to rank 10th all-time on the total points list with 43. She was a two-time Mountain West All-Conference Second Team selection, earning the honors during after teh 2014 and 2015 campaigns. Her 15 career goals are also tied for eighth all time. Murnan has been playing professionally overseas, most recently earning a pair of championships in 2018-19 with SC Barga.
Kylie Wassell, Goalkeeper (2010-13) – The Las Vegas native was a four-year starter in the net for the Rebels from 2010-13. Her 24 shutouts are tied for second-most all-time behind current assistant coach
Jenna Olson (Huff), while her 300 career saves ranks third. As a senior in 2013, she tied the school record with 10 shutouts while earning second team All-MW honors. That season, her 0.90 GAA ranked third in the Mountain West. Wassell was also the first first player in team history to be named Academic All-American (CoSIDA 3rd team).
