UNLV MEN’S SOCCER BEGINS FOUR-GAME CONFERENCE HOMESTAND
Rebels look to avenge one-goal losses in rematches with Seattle and San Jose State
The UNLV men’s soccer team is looking for a bounce back this weekend as it hosts WAC West division rivals Seattle and San Jose State on Friday (7 pm) and Sunday (1 pm) at Peter Johann Field. UNLV had started out the league schedule with a 2-0 win over the fourth team in the division (Bakersfield), but then suffered two disappointing one-goal losses on the road to the very same teams they are playing this weekend.
Though they dropped the first meetings to Seattle and San Jose State last week, UNLV is happy to be at home for the rematches, as the Rebels have been very strong on their home field this season, averaging two goals a game at Peter Johann Field. That’s helped them post a 3-2 home record with one loss at the hands of No. 22 Gonzaga, and the second coming in overtime. The Rebels split against these two last year at home, with a 3-0 win over Seattle and a 2-1 loss to SJSU.
Both games will be available on the Mountain West Network, shown on UNLVRebels.com, with the San Jose State game being provided by the student-run UNLV-TV production
UNLV vs. Seattle (Friday, 7 pm)
Live video – Mountain West Network (UNLVRebels.com
Live stats – Gametracker
UNLV vs. San Jose State (Sunday, 1 pm)
Live Webcast – Mountain West Network (UNLVRebels.com
Live stats – Gametracker
All About The Rebels
The top returning player for the Rebels this year is junior Las Vegas native Salvador Bernal, the top returning scorer from any team in the conference, and an all-region pick in 2012. Sophomore midfielder Rodrigo Fuentes is currently third in the WAC in points while senior forward Joaquin Rivas is tied for sixth, and Bernal is tied for second in assists with three. In goal is junior Ryan Harding, who is seeing action for the first time since 2011 after undergoing successful chemotherapy treatments, and he currently leads the league in GAA at 1.28.
Scouting Seattle
The Redhawks are currently first in the West division by one points thanks to a two-game unbeaten streak, after its 2-1 overtime win over a shorthanded UNLV squad and a 2-2 tie with Bakersfield, also in overtime. Friday will be the Redhawks’ ninth road game of the year, they are 1-6-1 in the first eight games away from Seattle.
Leading the team this year is Miguel Gonzalez with nine goals for 19 points. Hamza Haddadi is next on the team with seven points. In goal for the Redhawks is Jake Fenner, who is holding a 1.65 GAA this season with 91 saves.
Scouting San Jose State
The Spartans are coming into the weekend off its first win of the year. However, the team has only played three road games all season, and this will be the first one since Sept. 22. After going four games without scoring a goal, they put together four total against Bakersfield and UNLV, but have been held to just two goals total away from Spartan Stadium.
Rory Knibbs is the team’s top scorer with three goals and seven points. Four more players have one goal each. In the net is Emman Espinosa with a 1.34 GAA and two shutouts.
Next Time Out
The Rebels closes out their home schedule with a two-game weekend, beginning with a Friday, Oct. 25 contest against Kansas City at 7 pm. That’s followed by Senior Day on Sunday, Oct. 27 at 1 pm against Houston Baptist.
