LAS VEGAS (UNLVRebels.com) - The UNLV women's soccer team couldn't have asked for a better way to close out its home slate this spring as the Rebels beat first-place San Diego State 3-2 in overtime Saturday night on senior night at Peter Johann Memorial Field. It was the third consecutive win for UNLV, who improved to 5-2-1 on the season and is just a half game out of first place behind the Aztecs in the Mountain West  West Division standings.

For a second straight game, it was golden goal magic for the home squad with UNLV forward Hevani Haunga scoring the game winner with under a minute remaining in the first overtime period. This comes a week after redshirt junior Ariana Reyes' golden goal in the second overtime gave the Rebels a 2-1 win over Fresno State last Sunday. UNLV was able to avenge both of its earlier losses against the Aztecs and the Bulldogs with the OT thrillers.

The Scarlet and Gray finished 4-0-1 at home and have two regular season road matches remaining - at UNR on Friday, April 9 and at Boise State on Sunday, April 11. The division is still very much up for grabs on the final weekend with the winner advancing to the Mountain West Championship game against the Mountain Division winner to play for the league title and the automatic bid to the NCAA tournament.

It didn't take long for the intensity to amp up as the Rebels came out firing from the get go with Nailah Hapring just missing a chance at a goal 17 seconds into the game. Just over a minute later, sophomore Lourdes Bosch brought the ball up the left sideline, cut it back in and raced towards the box, blasting a shot past the SDSU keeper into the opposite corner for the 1-0 UNLV lead. The Aztecs quickly tied it at one in the fifth minute and the battle was on.

After halftime, the Rebels came out again as the aggressors and it paid off in the 52nd minute, when senior defender Samantha Bailley made a run from her right back position and received the ball from Alyssa Granados. Bailley quickly found redshirt sophomore Izzy Perez for a give-and-go, taking one touch when she got the ball back and burying it in the back left net for the 2-1 lead. It would stay that way until the 83rd minute when the Aztecs were able to tie it up at two to force overtime.

While San Diego State grabbed moments of momentum, it was the Rebels who controlled the tempo for the majority of the game and that carried over into the overtime period. With under a minute remaining in the first overtime, the shifty Bosch pushed the ball to the top of the 18-yard box and found Haunga making a run to her right. Bosch was able to tap the ball to Haunga and the Hawaii native slipped it past the Aztec keeper from about 12 yards out for the sudden death victory. It was Haunga's second career goal as a Rebel.

For the game UNLV out-shot SDSU 22-19, marking the sixth match of eight this spring the Rebels have bested their opponent in that category.

Junior keeper Emberly Sevilla, who has been strong in the net all season long, had a season-high eight saves, including a pair of key ones near the end of the game and in overtime to give the Rebels the chance for the win.

Prior to the match, the Rebels honored five seniors on senior night - defender Samantha Bailley, goalkeeper Elly Reynada, defender Jozee De Cunzo, midfielder Citlalli Alonso and forward Robin Pollard.

UP NEXT: The Rebels will have a chance to sweep in-state rival UNR on Friday, April 9 in Reno. UNLV won the first match between the squads 1-0 in Las Vegas. They will wrap up the regular season Sunday, April 11 at Boise State, who they played to a double overtime tie to open the season.