LAS VEGAS (UNLVRebels.com) – The fourth-seeded UNLV men's soccer team saw its WAC Tournament run come to an end in the championship match with a 2-1 defeat to second-seeded California Baptist on Saturday at Peter Johann Memorial Field.
After an 18th-minute Lancer goal opened the scoring, the Rebels (7-7-4, 3-2-2) worked their way to the final four shots of the first half to gain momentum that carried into the next frame. Out of the halftime break, the Scarlet & Gray continued to bring the pressure on offense and struck the back of the net in the 61st minute when senior
Nico Lopez rebounded freshman
Tyler Ware's shot that CBU's goalkeeper initially saved.
With their spirited attack, UNLV ended up with the upper-hand in shots by a 9-6 margin for the contest. CBU, however, stunned the Rebels with the game-deciding goal in the 82nd minute by Luis Mueller from just outside the left corner of the box.
ALL-TOURNAMENT TEAM: Behind their stellar run to the conference tournament final, four Rebels were named to the WAC All-Tournament team. Those included
Nico Lopez with the most goals (4) and points (8),
Brophy Howard with the second-highest assist (2) total,
Gabe Sanchez with a game-winning score and
Hermann Ragnarsson with one goal during this year's tournament.
QUOTABLE: "Soccer is a funny game. You can perform so well and control large parts of the game and not have the scoreline fall in your favor and that happened today. Credit to California Baptist for the result, but I am so proud of the team's effort and performance today and through the playoffs. We are so thankful for the support from our Soccer Foundation, the UNLV students and the greater Las Vegas community this season and it was special today to have so many Rebel fans out supporting us. We know this is only the first step to where this program is going and we will use today as a springboard to move us forward."
-UNLV Head Coach BJ Craig
REBEL NOTES:
- The Rebels' run to the conference title match as the No. 4 seed included back-to-back overtime wins over fifth-seeded Utah Valley and top-seeded Seattle.
- In the first round, Lopez netted the first hat trick in WAC Tournament history as UNLV beat UVU, 3-2.
- Two days after their quarterfinal, the Rebels upset the nation's No. 10 Seattle with a last second penalty kick goal by Las Vegas native Gabe Sanchez for the 2-1 victory.
- This marked UNLV's first trip to the WAC Tournament match. It was also just their first loss in a WAC final.
- Additionally, the Rebels matched their program-best number of WAC All-Tournament honorees with four. They also had four selections in their 2014 and 2016 WAC Champion squads.
2023 WAC MEN'S SOCCER TOURNAMENT
Sunday, Nov. 5 - First Round
Match 1: No. 4 UNLV def. No. 5 Utah Valley
Match 2: No. 3 Utah Tech def. No. 6 San Jose State
Wednesday, Nov. 8 - Semifinal Round
Match 3: No. 4 UNLV def. No. 1 Seattle U
Match 4: No. 2 California Baptist def. No. 2 Utah Tech
Saturday, Nov. 11 - Championship Match
No. 2 California Baptist def. No. 4 UNLV
