LAS VEGAS (UNLVRebels.com) – UNLV women’s soccer closed out its season on a winning note with two straight wins this weekend, and one of the key players behind those wins was honored Monday as freshman Marcella Brooks was named the Mountain West Defensive Player of the Week.
Brooks is normally a midfielder on the Rebels, but was pressed into service as the team’s starting goalkeeper after UNLV lost its top two goalkeepers to season-ending injuries the previous weekend. Playing the goalkeeper position for the first time in a game since the age of nine, Brooks played a big role in helping UNLV post a back of shutout victories, 2-0 over UNR (Nov. 1) and 1-0 over Southern Utah (Nov. 3) in the season finale. Against the Wolf Pack in a Silver State Series contest, Brooks faced nine shots and came up with her first four career saves. In the win over the SUU Thunderbirds, she was credited with one save as well.
The Las Vegas native also gave the Rebels a big weapon with her leg, as she took all of the Rebels’ free kicks in the first two-thirds of the field, sending a good number of them into the box. That included one in the 69th minute that Malika Markham headed into the box for an insurance goal to seal the 2-0 victory for UNLV, and Brooks was credited with an assist on the play.
LAS VEGAS (UNLVRebels.com) – Though it didn’t show on the scoreboard, UNLV completely dominated Southern Utah Sunday afternoon in the Rebels’ 1-0 victory in women’s college soccer action from Johann Memorial Field. The Rebels closed out the regular season with back-to-back shutout victories to end the season on a winning note.
UNLV finished the game with a commanding 37-2 advantage on shots, and 20-1 on shots on goal. The Rebels also held ball possession for over 70% of the contest, but despite all the chances, could not convert a shot until the final minutes after earning a corner kick, one of 13 on the day. Katie Ballou sent her corner kick into the middle of the box where Jadyn Nogues leaped up and headed the ball into the back of the net for the score in the 86th minute.
Freshman Marcella Brooks picked up her second shutout in as many games for the Rebels, recording one save on the afternoon.
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colorado (UNLVRebels.com) – UNLV dropped a 3-2 road contest at Air Force on Saturday, as the Falcons’ Tristan Trager posted a hat trick to send the Rebels to a second straight road loss in WAC men’s soccer action from the Cadet Lacrosse Stadium. The game had been moved to the lacrosse stadium and was played on a turf field thanks to snow in the area.
Air Force went up 1-0 in the 5th minute, before Tyler Allen tied the game for the Rebels with a goal in the 28th minute. UNLV would go into halftime still tied at 1-1 despite having been outshot 10-3.
A penalty kick goal for the Falcons in the 58th minute put the hosts up 2-1, while an insurance goal was scored in the 74th minute. The Rebels did close within 3-2 in the 88th minute thanks to Timo Mehlich’s fifth goal in the past four games, but did not have enough time to find a third tying score.
UNLV was outshot 16-15 for the game, but did hold a 12-6 advantage in the second half.
NEXT UP: The Rebels will end the regular season Saturday, Nov. 9 with a 6 pm (PT) contest at Grand Canyon in Phoenix, Arizona.
OREM, Utah (UNLVRebels.com) – UNLV fell behind early and could only manage a single goal in Thursday night’s 3-1 road loss at Utah Valley in WAC men’s soccer action. The loss dropped the Rebels to 3-5-1 in league play, likely putting them in a situation where they will need to win their last two games of the regular season to earn a spot in the seven-team WAC postseason tournament.
The Wolverines took an early 1-0 lead in the fifth minute, and would lead 2-0 at halftime after outshooting the Rebels 10-3. UNLV closed within 2-1 in the 58th minute thanks to Timo Mehlich, with his fourth goal in the past three games. That would be the lone goal for UNLV, and Utah Valley sealed the contest with a score in the 83rd minute.
UNLV was outshot 16-10, and 8-6 on shots on goal for the night.
NEXT UP: UNLV is off to Colorado to face the Air Force Falcons Saturday at 1 pm in Colorado Springs.
LAS VEGAS (UNLVRebels.com) – UNLV took an early lead and kept the UNR offense in check almost the entire night on the way to a 2-0 shutout victory over the Wolf Pack Friday night on the Rebels’ Senior Night from Johann Memorial Field in Mountain West women’s soccer action. The game was also part of the Silver State Series, the all-sports challenge between the two schools sponsored by IBEW Local 401 and Nevada Donor Network, and the score is currently tied 3-3 thanks to the three points earned by UNLV in women’s soccer with the victory.
On Senior Night, it was a pair of seniors providing the scoring, starting in the fourth minute after freshman Lourdes Bosch earned a PK after she was fouled in the box. Michaela Morris took the penalty kick and banked in the shot off the left post for the score and a 1-0 Rebel lead. That would be the eventual game-winner, as the Wolf Pack could not get on the scoreboard, as they were limited to just nine total shots, and only four on goal. Coming up big in the net for UNLV Friday was freshman Marcella Brooks, a midfielder who was pressed into goalkeeper duties and came up with four saves on the way to the shutout.
Brooks also factored in the second goal that sealed the win, as she took a free kick just past midfield and sent a high ball into the middle of the box. Senior Malika Markham would head the ball past the UNR goalkeeper into the net for the score and a 2-0 Rebel advantage.Brooks received an assist on the play.
UNLV finished with a 23-9 edge on shots, 14-4 on shots on goal.
NEXT UP: The Rebels close out the regular season Sunday, Nov. 3, with a non-conference game against Southern Utah at 1 pm at Johann Field.
LAS VEGAS (UNLVRebels.com) – UNLV women’s soccer will close out the 2019 regular season with a pair of home games, starting with Friday night’s Senior Night contest against the UNR Wolf Pack at 7 pm. The game is also a Code Red game for UNLV, and part of the Silver State Series, the all-sports challenge between the two schools sponsored by IBEW and Nevada Donor Network. There will also be a pregame tailgate, free to all with free food, drinks and live music starting at 5 pm, thanks to the UNLV Soccer Foundation. Sunday meanwhile will see the Rebels go out of conference play to host the Southern Utah Thunderbirds at 1 pm. Both games will be at Johann Memorial Field.
Tickets are just $8 for adults or $5 if bought online at UNLVTickets.com by the day before the game, $5 for seniors and staff, while kids 12 and under and all Nevada students under the age of 17 receive free admission to UNLV soccer contests.
Friday’s game will have a live video stream on the Mountain West Network, which is available on UNLVRebels.com, while Sunday’s contest will be on YouTube. Wyatt Tomchek will provide the play-by-play for both games.
UNLV vs UNR Johann Memorial Field (Las Vegas)
UNLV vs Colorado State Johann Memorial Field (Las Vegas)
LAS VEGAS (UNLVRebels.com) – The UNLV men’s soccer team looks to keep their WAC tournament hopes alive with two must-win matchups this weekend against Utah Valley (Thursday) and Air Force (Saturday). The Rebels have won three of their last four matches, but will need a strong final push to find their way in the tournament after dropping a 3-1 home contest to Houston Baptist on the Rebels’ Senior Day Oct. 27.
Thursday’s game will be available to watch through the WAC Digital Network, which will have live links on UNLVRebels.com and can also be watched through the Roku, Apple TV, Fire TV and Android streaming devices. The contest at Air Force will not have a live stream.
UNLV at Utah Valley Thursday, Oct. 31 – 6 pm – Clyde Field (Orem, Utah)
UNLV at Air Force Saturday, Nov. 2 – 12 pm – Cadet Lacrosse Field (Colorado Springs, Colo.)
It takes a lot of work for a soccer team to play a high pressing defense and then to, upon gaining the ball, quickly
transition into a possession, pass and move offense. Against UMKC the Rebels played it to perfection. They were
particularly impressive attacking the Kangaroos with a confident pass-oriented game complimented by intelligent
movement especially by their forwards. Those attacking players moved laterally, moved back, moved diagonally; they
continually found space to threaten the UMKC goal. Even when marked, by taking defenders away from vital spaces,
they often helped to create chances for runners coming from behind without even touching the ball. Most of the first
half the Rebels dominated possession, field position and shot totals, but had no luck in front of goal. The Roos only
produced sporadic counters which were handled easily by Rebel keeper Lukas Betz.
Often the frustrations of mounting an dominate offense that fails to produce a payoff can weaken a side’s resolve to continue to put in the work needed to score, but UNLV showed no signs of let up. Finally, at the 42-minute mark a well- aimed long ball down the Rebel left came across the goal where a couple excellent touches by Skyler Goo and Connor Ryan gave the home team a well-deserved lead at the half.
Any doubts about the Rebels second half were erased early. A series of well executed passes, this time down the Rebels
right found John Lynam able to pull defenders and slip a ball to Timo Mehlich who hit the lower far corner of the UMKC
goal. Not 1 minute later UNLV was at it again, this time with a more centrally located attack. Marco Gonzales assisted on
a rebound that fell to quick UNLV feet and Timo hit the net again. Perseverance and solid attacking had paid off and the
Rebs enjoyed a 3-0 lead.
The joy was short-lived, however. A turnover in midfield gave the visitors a counter attack and UNLV was caught wrong –
footed. Kevin Kamodi took a well placed shot to the lower near post to lower the margin back to two and put a bit of a
scare into fans of the Scarlet and Gray.
A team that is faced with constantly chasing the ball and seemingly never getting a chance to mount an attack can get
very tired both physically and mentally. After the Kangaroos goal, they saw very little of the ball as UNLV did an excellent
job of maintaining possession while mixing in a few dangerous moves to goal. Sure enough, the Roos’ Mikhail McComie
was red-carded putting UMKC down to 10 players and reducing the chances of any real comeback and just to seal the
game, Mehlich scored his hat trick goal on a penalty kick at 66 minutes. The rest of the game was more of the same.
UNLV keeping possession, playing smart, attacking through quick passing and off-the-ball movement to get attackers
into scoring areas with the ball at their feet. Only some unlucky shooting and hustling defense kept the score from
mounting including a missed UNLV penalty near the end of the game.
This was clearly the Rebels best overall effort of the season considering a decent opponent and the complete
domination by the home side (28 – 9 shot advantage). The team’s talent and will is becoming very apparent as their
unbeaten streak is now at 4. The test will be to repeat this performance during the remaining matches. If the Rebels can
continue to press successfully, get numbers around the ball and make the runs that create space along with the
unselfish play on display against Kansas City, they will be a genuine threat come tournament time.
If you want to learn more about the type of offense used so successfully by the Rebels in this match, “Concept Soccer –
A Step by Step Method to Score Goals and Develop Players” is available through Amazon. (Yes, it’s a shameless plug)
LAS VEGAS (UNLVRebels.com) – UNLV women’s soccer was handed two setbacks on Sunday afternoon, starting with a 5-2 home loss to Colorado State in Mountain West action from Johann Memorial Field.
Colorado State scored three first half goals (17th, 21st and 38th minutes) for an early 3-0 advantage, as the Rebels were playing with backup goalkeeper Elly Reynada after an injury to normal starter Emberly Sevilla Friday night. Reynada then herself left the game after a collision and injury in the 63rd minute, placing freshman Amaya Pidsosny in the goal to immediately face a penalty kick. The Las Vegas freshman would come up with the save on the PK, in her first career collegiate play.
UNLV claimed its first goal just before halftime following a free kick outside the box. Marcelle Brooks took the kick and scored to bring UNLV within 3-1. CSU quickly came out of halftime with a goal for a 4-1 edge. The Rebels didn’t go away easily, closing within 4-2 after Malika Markham headed in Katie Ballou’s free kick in the 67th minute but that was the last score for UNLV.
The Rebels suffered the loss despite a 16-15 edge on shots, though it was 12-8 in shots on goal for CSU. The Rebels also posted seven saves in the game, six from Reynada.
NEXT UP: The Rebels will host their Senior Night Friday against in-state rival UNR at 7 pm at Johann Field. It will be a Code Red game for UNLV, and also part of the Silver State Challenge, the all-sports competition between the two schools IBEW and Nevada Donor Network.
LAS VEGAS (UNLVRebels.com) – After scoring an early goal, UNLV allowed Houston Baptist to hang around just long enough to grab a late lead and then hold on for a 3-1 victory Sunday afternoon to spoil Senior Day for the Rebels at Johann Memorial Field. The loss dropped the Rebels to 3-4-1 in WAC play, while the Huskies improved to 3-5 with their second straight win while snapping UNLV’s four-game unbeaten streak.
Marco Gonzalez put UNLV up 1-0 in the 13th minute after he blasted in a shot from outside the box, following a corner kick from Nico Clasen. UNLV kept up the attack, taking 10 shots in the first 45 minutes, but it was the Huskies who would score next with a goal in the 23rd minute for a 1-1 tie game.
UNLV didn’t slow down in the second half, holding the majority of possession and taking 14 shots total. Yet none of them found the back of the net as HBU came up with 10 saves in the game, seven in the second half. The Huskies meanwhile weathered the storm long enough to find a second goal of their own in the 72nd minute, and then sealed the win with a score in the 79th minute.
The Rebels final shot advantage was 24-15 and 11-7 on shots on goal. Senior Enrique Adame posted four saves in net for UNLV as well.
NEXT UP: UNLV will play a Halloween night contest as the Rebels face Utah Valley in Orem, Utah with a 6 pm (PT) kickoff.
