LAS VEGAS (UNLVRebels.com) – Senior
Marco Gonzalez's golden goal in the 95th minute Friday night sent UNLV men's soccer to a 2-1 overtime victory over Houston Baptist at Peter Johann Memorial Field. The win marked the Rebels' (5-6, 1-3) first during WAC play this season.
The Rebels' game-winner came as junior
Sam Wren skipped a pass into the box and senior
Aedon Kyra tapped it back to set up Gonzalez's delivery into the lower right side of the net. Prior to the late-game heroics, Kyra nailed the equalizer for the Scarlet and Gray in the 80th-minute on a header from the cross by junior
Gabriel Claudio to even things up at 1 with the Huskies (2-9, 0-4) and help send the game to the overtime.
HBU jumped out to a quick 1-0 lead in the third minute, capitalizing on a free kick from 18 yards to give them a one-score advantage for the majority of the night until Kyra's late goal in regulation.
Bringing in a top-10 national ranking in shots on goal, the Rebels maintained their aggressiveness on the offensive attack throughout the match to finish with a 19-9 shot advantage against the Huskies - five of which landed on target.
Tallying his second start of the year, junior goalkeeper Miguel Duenas, Jr. made two saves in over 94 minutes of action to earn the victory in net for UNLV.
UNLV will remain home for another WAC matchup when it takes on Chicago State Sunday at 4 p.m. to conclude a double-header with UNLV women's soccer. Prior to both games, the UNLV Soccer Foundation will host a pre-game tailgate with free food at noon.
NEWS & NOTES:
- UNLV now has netted four game-winners on the year with Gonzalez's go-ahead score.
- Coincidentally, it was the third of the season at home for Gonzalez after he also gave the Rebels late wins in the season opener at Gonzaga and the non-conference finale vs. UC Irvine.
- With three points on a goal and an assist vs. the Huskies, Aedon Kyra has tallied a goal or an assist in five of the Rebels' past eight outings and leads the Scarlet and Gray in points (13) and goals (5).
