LOS ANGELES (UNLVRebels.com) — In spite of matching its season high in shots, the UNLV men's soccer team (2-2-0) came up short in a 1-0 defeat to LMU (1-2-1) on Thursday night at Sullivan Field.
The match's lone goal by the Lions followed a play that saw the ball slip into the box through the Rebel defensive unit for a shot in front of the net in the 44th minute.
STAT OF THE GAME: Despite the shutout, UNLV didn't leave the match without its fair share of chances, attacking early and often to the tune of season-best-tying tallies of 10 shot attempts and five shots on goal. Freshman
Pol Izquierdo's opening minute shot ricocheted off the corner of the crossbar, while two shots on goal apiece by senior forwards
Nick Legendre and
Bryce Allred each forced tough saves by LMU's goalkeeper.
Sophomore forward
Maxim Scordo also had a close call off a 56th-minute UNLV free kick but his header went over the goal. Additionally, junior midfielder
Joaquin Eisenberg's attempt to rebound a deflection off a
Nick Legendre first-half shot on target was stopped short.
After facing double-digit shot attempts by an opponent for the second straight contest, senior goalkeeper
Hugo Lemos and the Scarlet & Gray backline deterred 10 off the 11 Lion targets. Lemos' five saves gave him at least five saves for the second consecutive outing.
QUOTABLE: "It was a tough pill to swallow tonight, we started brilliantly and hit the crossbar, had a few more good looks and kept the ball very well. Hugo was great in goal again too. We need to learn how to have a little more poise at the end of matches. This is a group that has a great rebound mentality which I love, and we will keep moving forward and get ready for our next challenge."
- UNLV Head Coach BJ Craig
UP NEXT: UNLV will play the third of three consecutive matches in the Golden State at UC Riverside on Sunday, Sept. 6.
NOTES:
- The Rebels have recorded double-digit shot attempts and five shots on goal in back-to-back matches. They did the same in a win at CSU Bakersfield.
- This marks the second consecutive matchup between UNLV and LMU that has been decided by one goal. In last year's match vs. the Lions, the Scarlet & Gray won 2-1 on its home turf.
