Box Score LAS VEGAS (UNLVRebels.com) – UNLV women's soccer (1-1) grabbed its first win under head coach Kacey Bingham with a 1-0 shutout victory over Portland State (0-2) in Sunday's home opener at Mustang Memorial Field.
The game-winning goal against the Vikings (0-2) came by way of fifth-year forward
Kaitlin Taylor's first goal for the Rebels (1-1) on a header from seven yards in the 20th minute. The score followed a free kick by sophomore defender
Madison Encinas from the midfield line for her first career assist.
Additionally, sophomore goalkeeper
Riley Hodson and the Scarlet & Gray backline played stout defense throughout the match, keeping all six Portland State shots on goal outside the net. Facing her former team, Hodson picked up both her first career win and shutout, making six saves in the full 90 minutes.
STAT OF THE GAME: The Rebels won the day's possession battle, controlling the ball for 56 percent of the match and spending 80 percent of their possession in their own attacking half of the pitch. Despite finishing tied with the Vikings in the total shots department with 11, the Rebels created constant opportunities, earning 13 corners as opposed to two for the visitors.
UP NEXT: The Scarlet & Gray will kick off a doubleheader alongside UNLV men's socccer with a 5:30 p.m. contest vs. UC San Diego at Peter Johann Memorial Field on Thursday. Fans can buy tickets at
UNLVTickets.com or view the match on the Mountain West's direct-to-consumer digital subscription platform, MW+, by subscribing at the
link here.
NOTES:
- Taylor's goal gave her 10 career goals and marked the fourth game-winning score of her collegiate career. She had three game-winners playing for Bingham's Western Oregon squad last season.
- Hodson's six stops are the most she has made through two matches so far this season. She spent two seasons at Portland State before transferring to UNLV.
- The 11 total shots by the Rebel attack topped their six total shots in the season opener at Cal Poly.
- Along with earning her first win at the helm of the UNLV women's soccer program, head coach Kacey Bingham notched her first Division I win.
