LAS VEGAS (UNLVrebels.com) – Behind a last second goal via penalty kick, the fourth-seeded UNLV men's soccer team knocked off top-seeded Seattle, 2-1, in overtime of their WAC semifinal match Wednesday at Peter Johann Memorial Field.
The Rebels (7-7-4, 3-3-2) handed the first conference loss of the season to the Redhawks (12-3-3, 7-0-1), which entered the weekend ranked 10th nationally in the United Soccer Coaches Poll. The victory also secured their first trip to the WAC Championship game since 2016.
After a replay review confirmed a handball call in the box on SU, Las Vegas native
Gabe Sanchez played hometown hero with his successful game-winning penalty goal in the 120th-minute as time expired. The deciding score followed a cross into the box that ricocheted off senior
Nico Lopez's forehead onto a Redhawk defender's hand with just one second left in the second extra period.
Opening the scoring in the first half, freshman
Hermann Ragnarsson beat a pair of Seattle defenders into the left side of the box to launch his third goal into the net in the 21st minute. The play was set up by senior
Brophy Howard's and junior
Cesar Carbajal's double assist.
In response to a quick equalizer in the 26th minute by the Redhawks, the Rebel backline played stingy defense over the final 94 minutes despite being out-shot 14-1 during the second half and two overtime periods combined. Freshman
Hugo Lemos anchored the Scarlet & Gray defensive unit with five saves in 120 minutes.
QUOTABLE: "This was a great night for UNLV soccer and we can't thank the UNLV fans enough for their support in helping us grind out a result against a top-25 team in the country. We talked about playing every second of the game, to focus on winning the moments, and (our guys) even waited until there was just a second left on the clock to make it happen tonight. It was a great team performance and we will need that again on Saturday, along with the help of all the Rebel fans to win the final."
-UNLV Head Coach BJ Craig
UP NEXT: The Rebels will be pitted against second-seeded California Baptist in the WAC Championship match Saturday at 1 p.m. PT.
WAC TOURNAMENT TICKETS: Tickets to the WAC Tournament games are $6 purchased in advance of game day, $10 for adults and $8 for youth (ages 4-17) on match day, and free for children (ages 3 and under) and WAC institution students with a school ID. Purchase tickets at UNLVTickets.com or by calling 702-739-3267.
REBEL NOTES:
- This marked the second straight match the Rebels have won in overtime after a 3-2 overtime victory over fifth-seeded Utah Valley in the WAC Tournament quarterfinal. That match also saw UNLV net the game-winning goal in the second overtime period.
- It was UNLV's second win under the NCAA's postseason game format, which was changed last season to include two 10-minute overtime periods for matches that are tied after 90 minutes of regulation.
