UNLV MEN’S SOCCER OPENS SEASON ON FRIDAY AT DELAWARE
Rebels also to face UMBC on opening weekend
The UNLV men’s soccer teams begins the 2013 season with its first trip to the East Coast in six years, starting with Friday’s contest at Delaware. That game will start at 4 pm, and then the Rebels will go on to face UMBC on Sunday, Sept. 1 at 10 am (PT) before returning to Las Vegas. Both of the Rebels games this weekend will be video streamed live online for free, thanks to Delaware’s Hens’ All-Access and on AmericaEast.tv.
UNLV vs. Delaware (Friday, 4 pm)
Live video – http://hensallaccess.bluehens.com/HomePage.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=29100
Live stats – http://hensallaccess.bluehens.com/liveStats/liveStats.dbml
UNLV at UMBC (Sunday, 10 am)
Live video – http://www.americaeast.com/mediaPortal/player.dbml?&db_oem_id=14000&mid=79716
Live stats – http://livestats.prestosports.com/umbc/
All About The Rebels
UNLV has seven starters coming back from last year’s squad that finished sixth in the MPSF. The Rebels have made the move to the Western Athletic Conference for 2013, and were predicted to finish third in the preseason poll. Leading the Rebels will be junior Las Vegas native Salvador Bernal, the top returning scorer from any team in the conference, and an all-region pick in 2012. Joining him is preseason All-WAC midfielder Julian Portugal, while senior Joe Vitale starts out the season at the Rebels’ goalkeeper.
Scouting Delaware
The Blue Hens bring back eight seniors to this year’s squad, while sophomore Joe Dipre was the team’s leading scorer in 2012. Junior defender Tobias Muller was also selected to the preseason All-CAA team. Delaware, who finished the season 4-11-4, was picked to finish eighth in the CAA preseason poll.
Scouting UMBC
The Retrievers are preseason favorites in the America East to defend their 2012 title, and are riding a 10-game unbeaten streak at home, and nine-game overall unbeaten streak dating back to last season. They are led by Peter Caringi, a College Soccer News preseason All-American, while goalkeeper Brian Rowland was 13th in the nation last year with a 0.72 GAA.
Next Time Out
The Rebels will play their first home games of the 2013 season on Sept. 6 and Sept. 8 as they host the UNLV Nike Invitational. First up will be the home opener against Bradley on Sept. 6 at 7 pm, followed by the Sept. 8 contest against Georgia State at 1 pm, with all games played at Peter Johann Memorial Field.
