New Mexico 1, UNLV 0 (Match Report)

 

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Lindsey Guice slashed through the UNLV defense for the game’s lone goal with 12 minutes remaining, and that was more than enough as UNM’s stout defense limited UNLV’s high-flying offense in a 1-0 Lobo victory that assured New Mexico of playing in the Mountain West Tournament Nov. 4-9 at the UNM Soccer Complex.

 

The win improved the Lobos to 8-8-1 overall and 6-1 in the Mountain West.  UNLV is 7-8-2 overall and 2-5 in the conference.  With three points awarded for a win, the Lobos have 18 points, level with San Diego State, who got a goal with just over a minute left to defeat Nevada on Sunday.

 

The Lobo defense shined throughout the match, limiting the Rebels to one solid opportunity, as leading scorer Jenn Wolfe got loose 10-yards out, but Cassie Ulrich read the play well and made a diving save to her left.

 

The Lobos had better opportunities, especially in the first half when in the final minute Ruth Bruciaga anticipated correctly, and ran onto a back pass.  With UNLV keeper Kylie Wassell in no man’s land, Bruciaga hit a one timer that just went wide.

 

UNM broke through for the only goal it would need with just over 12 minutes left.  Guice took a pass around 35-yards out and headed towards the net with three defenders in front of her and two teammates trying the get into the play.  Guice pushed forward and and split the two defenders on the left and cracked a hard shot past Wassell for the lead.

 

The goal was Guice’s team leading fifth of the season, all in conference play.  It was also her third game-winner, as she also had the winners against San Jose State in overtime and at Colorado State, a game in which she scored a hat trick.

 

The Lobos outshot the Rebels 12-9, including 6-4 on net.  UNM also had six corners to UNLV’s four.  Cassie Ulrich had four saves in recording her seventh shutout, while UNLV’s Kylie Wassell had five.

 

New Mexico goes on the road for its final road conference weekend, starting Friday at Utah State on Friday at 3 p.m., and then to Boise State at noon on Sunday.

                                                                                                                                                               

 SCORING SUMMARY:                         

1.       77:58 Lindsey Guice (Unassisted)

 

 Shots: UNLV 9, New Mexico 12

 Saves: UNLV 5 (Kylie Wassell 5), New Mexico 4 (Cassie Ulrich 4)

 

Lineups

New Mexico Starters: Ulrich (GK), O’Connor, Guice, Viola, Bruciaga, Leyba, Nare, Holguin, Bri. Webster, Ellison, Espinoza.

First Half Subs: Trujillo (26:08)                                                                           

Second Half Subs: Olguin (45:00), Irwin (45:00)

UNLV Starters: Wassell (GK), Westover, Vanderzwaag, Wilson, Wolfe, Blazak, Bernal, Weber, Guida, Gideon, Rawlings

First Half Subs: Vazquez (20:55), Magnin (26:48), Botelho (36:17)

Second Half Subs: Kelsey (68:46), Delgado (70:36)

                                                                                                                     

Quotes from Kit Vela:

I thought we played very well for the most part.  In the first half we had some holes that they were exposing but I thought in the second half we did a good job of closing those holes up.

 

It was an amazing goal by Lindsey Guice.  We always knew she had that in her.  I thought we had some other good opportunities in the first and second half, but we weren’t able to convert.

               

Notes

*Cassie Ulrich is now moving up the single-season charts in several categories.  Her eight wins is tied for ninth all-time and her seven shutouts are tied for eighth all-time.

*Guice now has eleven points, tied with Dylann O’Connor (four goals, three assists) for the team lead.

*New Mexico has now gone 15-0-1 in its last 16 conference home games, and 17-0-1 in the last 18 against conference opponents at home.

 

Next Up                                              

New Mexico will host the UNLV Rebels on Sunday, October 20 at 1:00 p.m. at the UNM Soccer Complex.