Photo by Nathan Gross
After going into double overtime, UVU fell on the road to the UNLV Rebels by a final score of 2-1. The Rebels’ win avenges last season’s loss at the hands of the Wolverines, when UVU walked away with the 2-1 win in Orem.
The Wolverines drew first blood within the first three minutes of the match. Senior Sydney Fitzpatrick scored her first goal of the season, when she was assisted by sophomore Hannah Bruce. Fitzpatrick’s shot was from 25 yards out, hitting the crossbar before finding the back of the net behind UNLV goalkeeper Jordan Sallee.
It took UNLV almost 17 minutes to even the score during the first period. Sophomore Michaela Morris assisted senior Sophie Cortes who dribbled the ball once before finding the back of the net for her second goal of the season for the Rebels.
From that point on, the game was a defensive struggle with UVU goalkeeper Brooklyn Nielsen recording three saves to Sallee’s five. Breanna DeWaal and Breanna McCarter both led the Wolverines with three shots each, and McCarter also led UVU with three shots on goal for the night.
UNLV was able to secure the win in the second overtime with just 2:45 left on the clock, as senior defender Chidera Akubulio headed in the goal on a corner kick from Amanda Galbarith.
The loss leaves UVU with a record of 1-2 in the season, with each loss coming after the end of regulation. The next match for the Wolverines will be against Cal State Northridge on Sunday Aug. 27. Kickoff is set for 11 a.m.
