UNLV MEN’S SOCCER SUFFERS 3-1 LOSS TO SEATTLE IN WAC TOURNAMENT FIRST ROUND
Rebels fall despite large advantage in shots and ball possession
UNLV dominated nearly every category on the stat sheet except the most important one, as the Rebels allowed two second-half goals on the way to a 3-1 loss to Seattle Tuesday afternoon in the first round of the WAC Men’s Soccer Tournament at Peter Johann Memorial Field. The loss dropped UNLV to 4-5-3 for the season, while the Redhawks improved to 5-3-1 and advanced to Thursday’s semifinal against top-seed Grand Canyon.
The Rebels finished the match with a ball possession rate of 74%, as UNLV consistently was able to hold onto the ball and build up tactical attacks from the back. Unfortunately for UNLV, while that did result in 19 total shots for the game, only one would find the back of the net. That one came in the 23rd minute, after a Rebel was tripped from behind in the box, leading to a penalty kick opportunity. Jesus Partida sent the PK to the left side for the score, his second goal of the season, to put UNLV up 1-0.
Just when the momentum was all with the Rebels, the game quickly shifted as Seattle came up with a tying score 66 seconds later, scoring off a rebound of a shot that first hit the post. That tied the game at 1-1, and it would remain that going into the halftime break.
UNLV dominated the shots in the opening half at 9-2, but it was more even in the second half at 10-7. Seattle though would make UNLV pay for its missed chances on offense, as the Redhawks scored two second-half scores on counter attacks. The first came in the 55th minute to put Seattle up 2-1, and the third in the 79th minute.
UNLV’s final shot advantage was 19-9, and 9-5 on shots on goal. The Rebels also had seven corner kicks to two for Seattle.
QUOTEABLE: “I think we got caught too many times with too many numbers forward, and they were able to score off a couple of counters in the second. We were good in possession, which was in our game plan for today, it allowed us to keep the ball in their half of the field. I think we had plenty of scoring chances in the second half, but we needed to cash in on some of them. Now that our year is over, we are excited for next season, we bring back almost everyone except for one graduating senior, and we have one incoming freshman recruit that we are excited to bring on as an attacking player.” – UNLV head coach Rich Ryerson.