UNLV’S SALVADOR BERNAL PICKS UP NATIONAL WEEKLY MEN’S SOCCER TEAM HONORS
Senior also named the WAC Player of the Week
Senior also named the WAC Player of the Week
For the second time in two years a UNLV men’s soccer player has earned national team of the week honors after a win over Bradley, as forward Salvador Bernal was named to the College Soccer News Team of the Week on Monday. Bernal also received his first-ever conference weekly honor as he was the Western Athletic Conference Offensive Player of the Week, the league announced on Monday as well.
Bernal picks up the honor from College Soccer News almost a year to the date that UNLV’s Rodrigo Fuentes was named to the team on Sept. 9, 2013 following a five-point performance in a home 4-1 win over Bradley.
A senior and Las Vegas native, Bernal turned in the best game of his career this past weekend as he posted his first career hat trick, and then capped off his afternoon by assisting on the game-winning score with 12 minutes left to rally UNLV to a 4-3 upset victory at Bradley on Aug. 31 in the final game of the Hotels at Grand Prairie Classic in Peoria, Ill. Bradley came into the game receiving votes in the preseason national polls by both NSCAA and College Soccer News.
After UNLV fell behind by a 2-0 to Bradley in the first half, Bernal scored two straight goals in a six-minute span to tie the game before halftime. The first goal came off a counter attack (35th minute) and the second on a penalty kick in the 41st minute. He then opened the second half with his third straight goal, as his PK attempt was saved but he raced in and kicked the rebound back into the goal for the score. That put UNLV ahead 3-2 in the 49th minute. After Bradley tied the game, he assisted on the game-winner for the Rebels when his corner kick in the 79th minute led to the game-winning goal by Kyle Mellies off a header shot.
The seven-point game was a career-high for Bernal, and the second-most points ever by a player against Bradley. Bernal, the tournament MVP and also selected to the all-tournament team, is the first player ever to record a hat trick against Bradley on their home field. It was the first hat trick by a Rebel since Alex Hernandez against Connecticut on Sept. 23, 2001, and it was the 18th hat trick in UNLV history.
His game-winning performance helped the Rebels to their first 2-0 start since 2008, and just the second 2-0 start in the past 12 years as they claimed a 2-1 overtime victory over Western Illinois on Aug. 29 in the first game of the tournament. UNLV claimed the tournament title thanks to its 2-0 overall record.
UNLV now starts a four-game homestand, beginning with the first game of the Johann Memorial Classic on Friday, Sept. 5 at 7 pm against IPFW. The Rebels will close out the weekend against Howard on Sunday, Sept. 9 at 1 pm, with all games played at Peter Johann Memorial Field.
Summary
Article Name
UNLV MEN'S SOCCER NEWS: Bernal Picks Up National Weekly Honors
Description
For the second time in two years a UNLV men's soccer player has earned national team of the week honors after a win over Bradley, as forward Salvador Bernal was named to the College Soccer News Team of the Week on Monday.
Author
Judy Reppart