UNLV WOMEN’S SOCCER SUFFERS 2-0 ROAD LOSS AT WASHINGTON STATE
Rebels handed just second loss of the season
UNLV was outshot by just one on Friday afternoon, but two goals by Washington State’s Micaela Castain was the difference as the Cougars posted a 2-0 win over the Rebels in women’s college soccer action at the Lower Soccer Field. The Rebels dropped to 4-2-1 after their fifth road contest of the year, while WSU moved its shutout streak to five games to improve to 5-0-1 this season.
“We battled hard over 90 minutes and worked the ball well at times, but we lacked a bit of sharpness and creativity in the final third,” said UNLV head coach Michael Coll. “We knew it would be a fought game against a top athletic team from the Pac-12. Ultimately we were punished twice for ball watching in our own 18-yard box, and you can’t do that against teams of this quality.”
Though UNLV got off six shots in the opening half to just three for WSU, the Cougars would hold a 1-0 halftime lead thanks to Castain’s first goal of the game. The score was setup when Korynn Blanksma sent a cross into the middle of the box where it was headed by Castain to just inside of the right post in the 31st minute. Kayla Johnson also assisted on the score.
The second half saw the Rebels limited to just three shots over the final 45 minutes, with only one coming on goal. WSU meanwhile would increase its lead to 2-0 in the 49th minute on Castain’s second score. This one came on a shot from the middle of the box off a cross from Delaney Zalud, with Joceyn Jeffers also assisting on the goal.
Forwards Jenn Wolfe and Brittney Gideon both finished with a pair of shots on the afternoon for UNLV, and the two combined for both of UNLV’s shots on goal as well. Kylie Wassell finished with four saves in goal for the Rebels, while Gurveen Clair made two to earn the shutout for the Cougars. UNLV ended the game with a 4-3 edge on corner kicks.
“We’ll take confidence from the performance however in light of several key injuries, while also the fact that seven freshmen saw significant playing time for us today,” said Coll. “We’ll learn from it and come out strong on Sunday.”
UNLV stays in the Northwest for its next game, a Sunday, 12 pm (PT) contest in Moscow, Idaho against the Idaho Vandals.