UNLV WOMEN’S SOCCER OPENS THE SEASON THIS WEEKEND IN CALIFORNIA
Rebels to play road games at both UC Riverside and UC Irvine
UNLV starts the 2013 women’s soccer season on the road with a pair of games in California, part of a run of eight of the first 10 games of the year to be played outside Las Vegas. First up is a Friday, Aug. 23 contest at UC Riverside at 7 pm, followed by a Sunday, Aug. 25 game at UC Irvine at 1 pm.
All About The Rebels
The Rebels brings back three senior All-Mountain West players for the 2013 season, highlighted by forward Jenn Wolfe, an all-region selection after scoring 12 goals and 26 points last year. Also coming back is midfielder Courtney Botelho and goalkeeper Kylie Wassell, who set a school record with 10 shutouts last season.
The Rebels are guided by second-year head coach Michael Coll, who in his first year in Las Vegas directed the team to a 12-4-4 mark as well as a school-record seven-game win streak.
Scouting UC Riverside
This will be the fourth meeting in the last five years between the two, and UNLV has won the past two games, including a 3-0 win at home in 2011. The Highlanders finished 2012 with a 7-10-3 mark, and were picked ninth in the Big West preseason poll.
Expected to the lead the team this year is sophomore forward Crystal Lopez, who tied for the team lead in points last year with nine. Nicole Ragano should get the start in goal after appearing in three games in 2012.
Scouting UC Irvine
UNLV and the Anteaters will be playing for the first time since 2009 on Sunday, and the game will be between a pair of teams both picked to finish third in their respective leagues. UCI also placed a pair of players on the preseason All-Big West team, senior forward Natalia Ledezma and junior midfielder Cami Privett. Jenn Randazzo started the team’s last exhibition game of the preseason, and held a 1.70 GAA in 2012.
Selected Game To Be Shown Live By UNLV-TV
Next Time Out
The Rebels will play their first home games of the 2013 season on Aug. 30 and Sept. 1 as they host the UNLV Nike Invitational. First up will be the home opener against Portland State on Aug. 30 at 7 pm, followed by the Sept. 1 contest against LIU Brookyln at 1 pm, with all games played at Peter Johann Memorial Field.