Air Force Academy
UNLV
UNLV defeats Air Force, 2-0
11/2/2003 12:00:00 AM | Men's Soccer
Nov. 2, 2003
Alex Hernandez scored the game-winning goal and Leandro Iocco notched an insurance tally with less than three minutes remaining Sunday as UNLV defeated Air Force, 2-0, in a Mountain Pacific Sports Federation men's soccer game at Cadet Soccer Stadium. With the loss, the Falcons fall to 8-7-1 and 1-3 in the MPSF.
Hernandez, who scored the only goal in UNLV's 1-0 victory over Denver last Thursday, opened the scoring in the 37th minute with his 11th goal of the season. Iocco moved down the left side of the field past an Air Force defender and sent a centering pass to the front of the net. Hernandez jumped in the air as he approached the net and, while airborn, kicked the ball past Falcon goalie Brian Dougal.
Iocco then scored the Rebel's second goal with just 2:26 left in the contest as the Falcons were heavily attacking the Rebel defense. Iocco took a pass from Victor Arbelaez just past midfield and was one-on-one with Dougal. As Dougal came out to challenge him, Iocco made a move past the Falcon goalie to the center of the field and fired into an open net.
Air Force, which had its six-game home winning streak snapped, had several chances to score but could not get a shot past UNLV goalkeeper Peter Clitheroe. The Falcons had a stellar chance in the eighth minute as sophomore Colin Eames took a through pass from junior Marcus Sagastume and chipped the ball over Clitheroe. As the ball headed toward the net, Rebel defender Michael Meek kicked the ball over the net for the save. Eames, Sagastume and seniors Dan Walsh and Casey Chronister each had two shots on goal, but Clitheroe came up with eight saves himself for his second shutout of the season.
The Falcons had 17 total shots, compared to 14 for UNLV (6-11, 3-3 MPSF), and held a 9-6 advantage in shots on goal. Dougal made four saves for Air Force, which is currently in seventh place in the MPSF standings, just one point behind Denver. UNLV, meanwhile, moved into second place with the victory. Only the top six teams advance to the MPSF Tournament, held in Sacramento, Calif., beginning Nov. 13.
Air Force heads to Los Angeles, Calif., this week for a game on Friday, Nov. 7 against San Diego State. The game was originally scheduled for Sunday, Oct. 26, but was postponed due to the wildfires in the San Diego area. That game will be played at Loyola Marymount Univ. The Falcons' final regular-season game is next Sunday, Nov. 9 against Denver, beginning at 1 p.m. at Cadet Soccer Stadium.
