UNLV MEN’S SOCCER WILL HOST GONZAGA SUNDAY IN NON-CONFERENCE ACTION
Rebels to play second straight game on the Mountain West Network
The UNLV men’s soccer team brings a two-game win streak into its next contest, Sunday, Sept. 15 against Gonzaga at 1 pm at Peter Johann Field. Sunday’s opponent continues the tough stretch that UNLV will face in September, as Gonzaga comes in ranked No. 22 in the nation by Soccer America. That makes the Bulldogs the third team in the first five games the Rebels will face that are currently either ranked (UMBC (L) is currently No. 23 in the NSCAA coaches’ poll), or receiving votes (Bradley, whom the Rebels defeated 4-1 on Sept. 6).
Sunday’s game will also be streamed live by the Mountain West Network, which is available on UNLVRebels.com for free, thanks to the student-run UNLV TV production.
UNLV vs. Gonzaga (Sunday, 1 pm)
Live video – Watch UNLV-Gonzaga LIVE (Mountain West Network)
Live stats – Gametracker
All About The Rebels
The contest will match up one of the top scoring teams in the nation as the Rebels, who are top ten in goals, assists, and points, will be going up against one of the best defensive squads. Gonzaga comes in having allowed just one goal all season, and the team’s GAA of 0.31 is ranked 15th in the nation.
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 currently paces the WAC in points and assists, while senior forward Joaquin Rivas and junior midfielder Julian Portugal also rank in the top ten in the WAC for points.
Scouting Gonzaga
The Bulldogs have moved into the top 25 thanks to a two-game stretch in which they posted shutouts at No. 15 UCSB (2-0) and at California (1-0) in double-overtime. Gonzaga’s loss came in the opener at home to Washington 1-0. Three players have scored this year for the team, while Ryan Caballero’s 0.31 GAA ranks 16th in the nation.
Offensive Explosion
The Rebels kept pouring in the goals this past weekend on the way to winning the Nike Invitational title. Thanks to the 4-1 win over Bradley (Sept. 6) and 4-2 win over Georgia State (Sept. 8), the Rebels scored four or more goals in back-to-back games for the first time since the end of the 1991 season (4-1 at UC Irvine on Oct. 27, 4-3 at Cal State Fullerton on Oct. 31).
Next Time Out
The Rebels will play their first of four games in the state of California next weekend, starting with a road contest at top-20 Cal State Northridge on Friday, Sept. 20 at 5 pm. That will be followed by a Sunday, Sept. 22 game at UC Riverside, starting at 6 pm.
