#5 UNLV Upsets #4 New Mexico In Shootout

UNLV advances to MWC Semifinals to face vs. #1 BYU

Nov. 5, 2008

LAS VEGAS, Nev. -

The fifth-seeded UNLV Rebels (11-5-3) needed a penalty-kick shootout vs. the fourth-seeded New Mexico Lobos (8-5-6) to advance to the semifinals. The match is officially recorded as a draw, with the score tied 1-1, after 110 minutes of play. With the win, UNLV advances to face the top-seeded BYU Cougars on Nov. 6 at 3 p.m. at Peter Johann Memorial Field. The match will be aired live on The Mtn.

The Rebels advance to the next round after winning the shootout, 3-2. UNLV goalkeeper Alicia Lugo made two stops, while Brie Kuhne, Chelsea Green and Shannon Hughes each recorded goals.

"This was a hard fought game and a great win for us, " said UNLV head coach Kat Mertz. "We had a lot of freshmen step up and do some great things. Alicia Lugo really came through for us today."

UNLV's Jenna Larkin broke a scoreless tie in the 57th minute (56:40). The Rebels' Niki Connolly was credited with the assist, as she passed the ball into the upper left side of the box. Larkin, who had only seen action in five contests this season, received Connolly's pass and managed to squeeze the shot between UNM goalkeeper Shannon Adragna's legs and into the goal for her first career score.

New Mexico evened the game at 1-1 on Alexis Ball's free kick from 35-yards in the 71st minute (70:10). Ball, who was initially fouled, blasted a shot high toward the Rebel goal. Lugo got her hands on the ball to stop its momentum, but was unable to prevent it from crossing the line. It was Ball's seventh goal of the season.

UNLV's offense suffered a major setback in the 35th minute (34:55) of the first half when sophomore forward Ashleigh Shoughro, the MWC's second-leading scorer, left the game with an injury.

Overall, UNLV outshot New Mexico by a 20-to-13 margin, with both having six shots on goal. Lugo saved three shots, while Adragna had five.