Utah Soccer Takes Down UNLV, 3-1

Saturday, October 11

Salt Lake City, Utah

1:00 PM

University of Utah

UNLV

10/11/2008 12:00 AM | Soccer

Oct. 11, 2008

Box Score

SALT LAKE CITY - The University of Utah soccer team (6-7-2, 2-1-0) defeated defending Mountain West Conference champion UNLV (9-5-1, 1-2-0) by a 3-1 score Saturday at Ute Field in cold, windy conditions. The game-winning goal was struck by sophomore forward Lauren Hair (Alpine, Utah) as she found the back of the net for the first time this season.

"We played with fantastic spirit today," said Utah head coach Rich Manning. "Against a very good opponent, in tough conditions, we fell behind right before the half but did a very good job of bouncing back as we have all season. UNLV had been playing very stingy defense and I think it showed a lot of character to come out and score right away. It built our confidence up and spurred us on for the rest of the half."

Hair's goal came in the 60th minute of play, snapping a 1-1 tie. She was played into the box by junior midfielder Kelly Isleib, who notched her team-leading fourth assist of the season and first game-winning assist.

"Kelly played a great ball to me and I just had to pass it into the goal," said Hair. "There wasn't much to it. It definitely feels good to finally score but really I am just glad to help the team in any way I can."

"Lauren is a very important player to this team," said Manning. "She is the turbo boost to our engine and her constant work ethic and abilities to get around the goal make a big difference in our attack. She has been playing very well and for her to get on the board I think will energize her and the rest of the team."

The Utes had come out of halftime trailing 1-0 after the Rebels took the lead with just 15 seconds remaining in the first half. Haley Partridge collected a loose ball in the Utah box and played it back to Ashleigh Shoughro, who one-time it in from approximately 18 yards out.

Utah responded less than two minutes into the second half as freshman defender Lauren Porter (Salt Lake City) tied the game at 1-1 as she buried a header off of a corner kick from senior forward Katy Reineke (Salt Lake City). It was Porters second goal of the year, both of which have been headers off of Reineke corner attempts.

"We had a lot of chances in the first half so it was good to finally finish one," said Porter. "I knew we would be able to score one and I think it put them on their heels a little bit."

The third goal of the game came with just under 10 minutes remaining as Reineke sealed the win with a long-range strike. The Utes were doing a good job of moving the ball around the right side and keeping possession, when senior midfielder Amanda Sanchez (Sacramento, Calif.) played the ball to Reineke, who turned, took a touch and blasted a shot that found the upper left corner of the UNLV net. It was Reineke's third goal in two games and the first assist of the year for Sanchez. Freshman forward Chelsea Forbes (Bountiful, Utah) was also credited with an assist on the play.

Utah has now won back-to-back games for the first time this year and pulls within one game of a .500 record. After going 13 games without scoring more than two goals in a contest, the Utes broke out for a combined seven tallies this weekend, including four against San Diego State Thursday. Utah improves its home record to 4-3-1 on the year.

"The loss to BYU last weekend was a real wakeup call for us," said Hair. "It definitely showed us what we needed to do and we all realized we had to pick it up or we would be done. We have to give it everything we've got every game."

"I think we have been getting closer as far as scoring over the last three or four weekends," said Manning. "It was nice to see us finally break through this weekend. Some of it has to do with improved technique and precision around the goal. But I think the biggest reason has been turning the disappointment from the BYU game into determination and positive energy. Fighting back from that result has really changed the mindset of the team."

Utah outshot UNLV 27-4 overall, with shots on goal going 14-1 in the Utes' favor. Utah earned six corner kicks while holding UNLV to none, and fouls were an even 10-10.

The Utes get back into action on the road next weekend, heading to New Mexico Thursday, Oct. 16, for a 7 p.m. MT contest. They will then take on TCU in Fort Worth, Texas, Saturday, Oct. 18, at 6 p.m. Utah's next home match will be Friday, Oct. 24, as the Utes host Seattle University.