LAS VEGAS (UNLVRebels.com) – The UNLV women's soccer suffered another tough loss in Mountain West action, losing to San Diego State 1-0 in overtime Friday night at Peter Johann Memorial Field. After an intense and physical 90 minutes of regulation, the Aztecs scored just under a minute into the extra period for the golden-goal victory.
It was the Rebels' second overtime defeat in its last three games as they dropped to 8-6 overall and 1-4 in league play. Prior to the last two weekends, UNLV had played in four overtime games under second-year coach Jenny Ruiz Williams and was unbeaten in extra time until a 4-3 double overtime loss to Air Force last Friday.
The rival squads battled back and forth all game long, but it was the Rebels who controlled the last 15 minutes of the contest and came close to netting the go-ahead score as the final minutes ticked off the clock. Junior
Lourdes Bosch and senior
Ariana Reyes both narrowly misfired on goal opportunities, but the defense remained stout, keeping the ball in the Rebel attacking third for much of the second half.
After the kickoff in overtime, the Aztecs gained possession and advanced the ball up the left side, with SDUS's Emma Gaines-Ramos sending a cross into the box to find Anna Toohey in front of the goal. Toohey finished in the lower right corner just past the reach of
Riley Liebsack, who was making her third career start.
The tightly contested match featured 29 shots and 12 saves, with UNLV edging out the visitors 15-14 and 7-5, respectively, in those categories. Bosch led the way with four shots, while sophomore
Nailah Harpring had three and Reyes and Perez recorded two apiece. Liebsack collected a career-high seven saves in the game.
The Rebels will finish out the weekend at home Sunday, hosting New Mexico at 1 p.m. as part of a doubleheader with UNLV men's soccer. The Lobos are tied for first with Fresno State in the Mountain West standings at 4-0-1 after playing to a 1-1 draw at UNR Friday night.
The UNLV Soccer Foundation will host a brunch tailgate prior to the Sunday Rebel contests starting at noon. The tailgate is free with the purchase of an admission ticket to the game.
