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Akubuilo Earns National Honor, Rebels Remain Ranked in West Region

Senior Chidera Akubuilo is one of 11 players named to Top Drawer Soccer’s National Team of the Week, Rebels ranked 15th in United Soccer Coaches’ West Region poll.

Aug. 29, 2017


LAS VEGAS (UNLVRebels.com) – For the second straight week, UNLV women’s soccer made an appearance on Top Drawer Soccer’s National Team of the Week as senior Chidera Akubuilo was one of three defenders honored on the 11 player squad. The Rebels also remained in the polls, ranking 15th overall in the West Region by United Soccer Coaches.Akubuilo, from Torrance, California, was her usual stout self on UNLV’s back line, helping the Rebels stay unbeaten with home wins over Utah Valley and Southern Utah over the weekend. The senior also added some offensive heroics, scoring a header golden goal with less than three minutes remaining in double overtime to lift UNLV to a 2-1 win over Utah Valley.

After ranking 14th in the United Soccer Coaches West Region poll last week, the Rebels remained in the poll, dropping one spot to 15.

UNLV’s 4-0 record through the first two weeks of the season matches the program-best start set just a year ago. The Rebels will be on the road this weekend for the first time in 2017, taking on Sacramento State Friday, September 1 at 2:30 pm. PT and UC Davis on Sunday, September 3 at 1 p.m.

Cortes Named Mountain West Player of the Week

Senior Sophie Cortes nabs league’s Offensive Player of the Week honor after scoring three goals in pair of UNLV wins.

 

Aug. 28, 2017

LAS VEGAS (UNLVRebels.com) – UNLV women’s soccer captured the Mountain West Offensive Player of the Week honor for the second straight week as senior Sophie Cortes earned the award after a three-goal performance over the weekend. The midfielder’s play helped the Rebels improve to 4-0, matching the program-best start set just a year ago.

Cortes, a Newhall, California, native, became a full-time starter in 2016 and has been the engine in the UNLV attack this season. In Friday’s match against Utah Valley, the Rebels found themselves in a 1-0 hole three minutes into the game, but Cortes didn’t let it stay like that for long, tying it up at one in the 17th minute. UNLV went on to win the game with under three minutes remaining in double overtime on a header golden goal by fellow senior Chidera Akubuilo. In Sunday’s contest with Southern Utah, Cortes scored two goals 13 minutes apart to put the Rebels up 3-0 just after halftime, with the two scores ultimately providing the final margin of victory in the 3-1 win. After scoring four goals and registering six assists all of last year, the senior has already scored four goals and collected three assists through the first two weeks.

This is Cortes’ first career league honor and is UNLV’s 49th overall.

The Rebels (4-0) are heading out on the road for the first time in 2017, traveling to Northern California to face Sacramento State on Friday, September 1 at 2:30 p.m. PT and UC Davis on Sunday, September 3 at 1 p.m. PT.

Rebels Stay Unbeaten With 3-1 Win Over Southern Utah

UNLV begins the season 4-0 for the second straight year, matching best start in program history.

 

Aug. 27, 2017

Box Score | Season Statistics

LAS VEGAS (UNLVRebels.com) – UNLV women’s soccer stayed perfect on the season with a 3-1 win over Southern Utah on a hot Sunday afternoon at Peter Johann Memorial Field. The Rebels are 4-0 through the first two weekends for the second year in a row, matching the program-best start they achieved last season.

Sophomore midfielder Georgia Kingman got the offense going early with a goal in the ninth minute off of a rebounded shot, while Sophie Cortes’ pair of goals 13 minutes a part in the middle of the game gave the Rebels a comfortable lead at 3-0. Sunday’ performance by the speedy midfielder capped a stellar weekend for the senior as she netted three goals total in the wins over Utah Valley and Southern Utah to give her four on the year – the same amount she had in all of 2016.

Southern Utah (0-4) spoiled the shutout with a goal of their own in the 81st minute, but the early lead did allow several young Rebel newcomers to see extended amounts of playing time, which will surely help with depth later in the year.

THE TURNING POINT: The Rebels took control early, attacking the Thunderbird defense relentlessly. Cortes was at the center of it, getting a couple shots off from 12 yards out that were blocked by the SUU keeper. One shot bounced off the keeper and out to the waiting foot of Kingman, who blasted it from the left side of the box from 15 yards out and right under the crossbar for the 1-0 lead.

STAT OF THE GAME: For the fourth-straight game, the Rebels out-shot the their opponent, this time with an 20-8 margin. They have held opponents to single-digit shots three out of the four games in 2017.

REBEL OF THE GAME: Sophie Cortes. Cortes’ goals came in the 37th minute and the 50th minute, putting the Rebels up 3-0 and ultimately providing the margin of victory over the Thunderbirds.

QUOTABLE:

Head coach Chris Shaw on the team’s performance:

“I thought we controlled the ball and the game and had a majority of the possession, but I thought we were a little impatient in the attack. We settled for some longer shots rather than waiting for more dangerous opportunities. But we were able to get a lot of players in and see some freshman out there for the first time. It was not one of our better performances, but a win is a win and we’re 4-0, so we’ll take that.”

Shaw on heading out on the road next weekend for the first time in 2017:

“We’ll see how it goes. The road presents different challenges – a hostile environment, different routine – so hopefully they are ready. We know we are going to have two tough games next weekend, so it will be a challenge and we will see what happens.”

REBEL NOTES: 

* The Rebels won their first four games for the second consecutive year to match last year’s program-best start.
* Dating back to last season, the Rebels are unbeaten in 14 straight regular season contests.
* Cortes’ four goals matches the total she had in all of 2016.
* Junior Amanda Galbraith picked up her fourth assist on the year as she set up Cortes’ first goal of the afternoon in the 37th minute.
* Freshman Hannah Harrison nabbed her first career assist with a beautiful ball over the SUU back line that Cortes was able to run onto and score in the 50th minute.

* The Rebels stayed a perfect 7-0 all-time against Southern Utah.

NEXT FOR THE REBELS: The Rebels venture out on the road for the first time this season, heading to Northern California for a Friday matchup with Sacramento State and a Sunday contest against UC Davis. Follow the road matches on the UNLV Women’s Soccer twitter page (@UNLVwSoccer) and at UNLVrebels.com.

Rebels Stun No. 15 Portland With Last Second Header

UNLV has knocked off three of its last four ranked opponents.

Aug. 25, 2017

PORTLAND, Oregon (UNLVRebels.com) – In perhaps the most thrilling finish in UNLV men’s soccer history, the Rebels stunned 15th-ranked Portland on the road Friday night in front of a crowd of 4,385 off a golden goal with just one second left in the second overtime for a 3-2 victory in the season opener for both teams. Following a yellow card against the Pilots, Rebel goalkeeper Enrique Adame took the free kick 75 yards away from the Portland goal. The ball bounced at the top of the box, and then junior Daniel Moran slipped free and headed it in for a goal, the first of his career, at the 1:09.59 mark of the contest.

THE TURNING POINT: Portland was forced to play shorthanded from the 39th minute after Danny Musovskiwas dragged down from behind on a breakaway. The Rebels trailed 2-1 at that point, but with the Pilots down to just 10 players they could not add to their lead, allowing the comeback by UNLV.

STAT OF THE GAME: Portland had four shots on goal in the first 45 minutes, and only one total in the final 65.

REBEL OF THE GAME: Musovski showed why he’s a preseason All-American, as the senior forward scored the night’s first goal and assisted on the tying score to finish with three points, in addition to drawing the game-changing red card against the Pilots.

QUOTABLE: “A fantastic start to the first game of the 2017 campaign with an exciting finish in double overtime in the very last second of the game. Danny Musovski’s play in the first half was giving the defenders fits and his threatening runs to the goal really put the team off balance. This is the first time many of our players have been in front of a very intimate atmosphere of a crowd this size, and they held their composure well over the game. This is just step one in the long journey ahead, we came to win, we were fortunate to get the win, now we regroup and get ready for Oregon State on Monday.” – Head Coach Rich Ryerson.

REBEL NOTES:
* Dating back to the semifinals of the 2016 WAC Tournament, the Rebels have knocked off three of the past four ranked teams they have faced. They took down No. 23 Utah Valley 1-0 in the WAC semifinals, and followed that by topping No. 18 San Diego State in the first round of the NCAA Tournament, before falling at No. 6 Denver in the NCAA second round.
* The assist by goalkeeper Enrique Adame was the first of his career.
Daniel Moran scored his first career game-winner, and first overall goal with the double-overtime header.
* Freshman Marco Gonzalez recorded his first career point with an assist on the night’s second goal, a sliding kick by Spencer Jackson in the 67th minute. Danny Musovski also assisted on the score.
* Musovski notched the first goal of the night when he headed in Timo Mehlich’s corner kick in the 21st minute that tied the game at 1-1. That gives the senior 33 total goals in his career.

NEXT FOR THE REBELS: UNLV will play at Oregon State on Monday, Aug. 28, at 1 pm, in a game televised by the Pac-12 Network.

Golden Goal Lifts Rebels To Double Overtime Victory

Senior defender Chidera Akubuilo knocks in a game-winning header goal off an Amanda Galbraith corner kick with under three minutes remaining in double overtime Friday night.

 

Aug. 26, 2017

Box Score

LAS VEGAS (UNLVRebels.com) – UNLV women’s soccer was challenged for the first time in 2017 and the Rebels responded well, fighting through a physical game and an early deficit for a double overtime victory Friday night at home against Utah Valley (1-2).

UNLV (3-0) found itself in unfamiliar territory – down 1-0 just four minutes into the game on an early Wolverine goal – but was able to refocus and even the score at one in the 17th minute on senior midfielder Sophie Cortes’ second goal of the year. That’s where the score remained for the next 90 minutes, well into in the second overtime period, until the head of senior defender Chidera Akubuilo found Amanda Galbraith’sperfectly placed corner kick with under three minutes remaining in the game. The golden goal kept the Rebels’ record perfect on the year at 3-0 and marked the second straight year the team has started the season with three straight wins.

THE TURNING POINT: With the second overtime winding down and the game looking as if it was destined for a draw, the Rebels continued to relentlessly attack the Utah Valley defense. The pressure paid off as UNLV drew a corner with three minutes left on the clock. Junior forward Amanda Galbraith, the Mountain West Offensive Player of the Week, set up for the corner kick and placed the ball in front of the goal and in the perfect spot for the 5-9 Akubuilo to track it out of the air with her head.

STAT OF THE GAME: For the third-straight game, the Rebels out-shot the their opponent, this time with an 18-10 margin.

REBEL OF THE GAME: Chidera Akubuilo nabbed the game-winner, but the MAC Hermann Trophy Watch List selection was all over the place Friday night, thwarting several attacks by the Wolverines from her center back position.

QUOTABLE:

On the early goal by UVU and the late win:

“It wasn’t our best performance, giving up the early goal is not ideal, but after that I thought we settled in. Credit to the players, they responded well [to the early goal|. That was one of my questions, how resilient are we going to be when we get down a goal? So they responded well to that. And  then overtime, to me is a gut check, it’s all about heart and desire and they battled. There is a reason Chi is on the MAC Hermann Trophy Watch List and I think she showed what’s she capable of in winning the game for us. Utah Valley is a good team, so anytime you get a “W”, we’re pleased.” – HC Chris Shaw

On if last year’s loss at Utah Valley was on the returning players minds:

“We decided we aren’t going to talk about last year. We’re focused on this team, this year. What happened in the past is in the past and we are going to keep moving forward because I think this group is a special group and has the ability to do a lot great things.” – HC Chris Shaw

REBEL NOTES: 

* The Rebels won their first three games for the second consecutive year.
* UNLV is looking for a second straight 4-0 start, which would match the best start in program history set last year.
* Dating back to last season, the Rebels are unbeaten in 13 straight regular season contests.
* Cortes already has two goals through three games after scoring four all of last season.
* Two of three of Galbraith’s assists have come on header goals.
Michaela Morris recorded the assist on Cortes’ goal, laying it off perfectly at the 18 yard box to set Cortes up.
* The Rebels have never lost to Sunday’s opponent, Southern Utah.
* Utah Valley handed the Rebels their first loss a year ago after their 4-0 start, making the double OT victory that much sweeter.

NEXT FOR THE REBELS: The Rebels wrap up their four-game homestand Sunday at 1 p.m. against Southern Utah, who they beat 2-1 a year ago in Cedar City. Purchase tickets at unlvtickets.com.

Opening Weekend Has Rebels On Road At Portland, Oregon State

UNLV, the preseason favorites in the WAC, are looking for their first-ever road wins over the Pilots and the Beavers.

 

Aug. 24, 2017

LAS VEGAS (UNLVRebels.com) – @UNLVRebelSoccer |  UNLV Weekly Release  |  Buy Tickets

UNLV men’s soccer will begin its season by facing four NCAA teams from a year ago in the first five contests of the season. That includes Friday’s season opener at Portland, which comes into the weekend ranked No. 15 by Top Drawer Soccer. A trip to Pac-12 member Oregon State Monday in a game televised nationally by the Pac-12 Network will concluded the weekend road trip for the Rebels.

The contest with the Pilots on Friday be shown locally in the Portland area on Comcast. Live video streams of both the Portland and Oregon State contests will be available as well off links at UNLVRebels.com.

The Rebels will be on the road against next week at New Mexico (Sept. 8), before hosting Pacific on their home opener on Friday, Sept. 8. The annual Alumni game is also set for that date as well, starting at 4:30 pm. Season tickets are on sale now and are just $35 for adults, $25 for UNLV faculty/staff and seniors. Single game ticket prices this season are $8 for adults, $6 for faculty/staff and seniors, though a special internet price of $5 is available for all tickets bought online at UNLVTickets.com, good up to three hours before game time. Kids 12 and under are always free at UNLV men’s soccer contests.

GAME #1
UNLV (0-0-0, 0-0-0) at NR/#15 Portland (0-0-0)
Friday, Aug. 25 – 7 pm – Portland, Ore. (Merlo Field)
Live Stats – Live Video

GAME #2
UNLV (0-0-0, 0-0-0) at Oregon State (0-0-0)
Monday, Aug. 28 – 1 pm – Corvallis, Ore. (Lorenz Field)
Live Stats – Live Video