LAS VEGAS (UNLVRebels.com) – Playing its first home match in nearly a month, the UNLV women's soccer team (2-4-2) won a thrilling 3-2 contest over Pacific (1-8-0) in Thursday night's non-conference finale at Peter Johann Memorial Field.
After the Tigers clawed their way into a tie with two second-half goals, sophomore forward
Julia Salem tapped in the 69th-minute game-winner following a free-kick relay into the front of the goal from sophomore defender
Madison Encinas and junior forward
Felicity Garcia. With the play, the Scarlet & Gray overcame a pair of Pacific goals in the 50th and 60th minutes.
Salem, who tallied her first career game-winning goal, came away with three points in the contest as she also assisted on a 37th-minute goal headed in by fifth-year forward
Kaitlin Taylor that put the Rebels up 2-0. The helper led to Taylor's fifth goal of the 2026 campaign.
Opening the evening's scoring festivities, freshman
Kamri Yergensen scored her first collegiate goal in the 26th minute on a ball she launched from the right of the box. Her target ricocheted off the left post and then took a hop off Pacific's goalkeeper before trickling past the goal line.
STAT OF THE GAME: UNLV's attack kept its foot on the gas pedal throughout the contest, putting up season highs of eight shots on goal and 14 total shots. Additionally, it was the third straight game the Scarlet & Gray fired double-digit shot attempts.
UP NEXT: UNLV will open Mountain West play at home with another 7 p.m. kickoff Thursday, Sept. 24 vs. UTEP.
NOTES:
- UNLV finished non-conference action on a high note with back-to-back results that also included a 2-2 road draw at CSUN.
- Through eight contests, Taylor stands as the Rebel leader with 12 points, five goals and two assists during the 2026 campaign.
- Salem follows Taylor on the Rebels' goal and points chart for the season, taking possession of second in those categories with her two scores and five points.
- The Scarlet & Gray has now netted multiple goals three times this season, improving to an unbeaten 1-0-2 in those contests.
- In her first game back after being sidelined for the 2025 season, redshirt sophomore Tori Martinez was credited with an assist for making the pass to Salem before Taylor's goal.
