The Seattle University men's soccer team suffered a 3-0 loss to the UNLV Rebels Friday night in a Mountain Pacific Sports Federation match at Peter Johann Field.
UNLV (3-8-1, 1-1-0 MPSF) scored the first goal of the match in the 21st minute when Julian Portugal sent a blast from about 30 yards out into the back of the net for his fourth goal of the season. In the 37th minute, Mike Mota picked up his first goal of the season when his low hard shot off a free kick scooted inside the left post to give the Rebels a 2-0 lead at halftime.
In the second half, UNLV tested Seattle U goalie Jake Feener (Rocklin, Calif.) early, as Joaquin Rivas took a shot three minutes into the second half that Feener was able to stop. Less than two minutes later, Jonny Espinoza sent a long pass down the field, and Salvador Bernal outran the Redhawk defense, corralled the ball, and place a shot inside the right post for his third tally of the season.
The Rebels maintained the offensive pressure, as Bernal took two more shots soon after his goal, one that sailed high and another that Feener prevented from going over the goal line. Mota's attempt for a second goal of the night in the 62nd minute hit the crossbar, and Feener was called upon again two-and-a-half minutes later to stop a scoring attempt by Robert Garcia.
Seattle U's best chances came later in the second half, as Hamza Haddadi (Shoreline, Wash.) challenged Rebel goalie Joe Vitale with a header in the 75th minute, but Vitale made his third and final save of the match. Another attempt by Haddadi in the 78th minute was high, while Miguel Gonzalez (Yelm, Wash.), who took half of the team's eight shots in the contest, saw his final attempt blocked as time ran out.
Feener was credited with five saves in the match, four of them in the second half. Bernal and Rivas led the Rebels with four shots apiece as UNLV enjoyed a significant shot advantage, 19-8.
Seattle University (2-6-1, 0-1-1 MPSF) heads to Bakersfield, Calif., for a match against CSU Bakersfield Sunday, Oct. 7, starting at 1 p.m. Links to live stats and live video are available on GoSeattleU.com. The Redhawks' next home match will be a rematch against UNLV Friday, Oct. 12, at 3:30 p.m. at Championship Field, after the women's soccer match against Utah State.