Box Score
RENO, Nev. The University of Nevada soccer team fell to UC Santa Barbara 4-0 Friday night at Mackay Stadium in the season opener for both teams.
Nevada recorded a good scoring chance just 30 seconds into the match. Miranda Montejo played a ball from the midfield to Samantha Miller. Miller’s touch drew UC Santa Barbara’s keeper off her line and Cristen Drummond narrowly missed getting the finishing touch on the ball.
The Gauchos took a 1-0 lead in the 17th minute as Michelle Russell got played into the box by Jacqui Simon. Russell received the ball with her back to goal, turned and beat Nevada keeper Sarah Hunt. UC Santa Barbara went up 2-0 in the 31st minute on an unassisted goal by Kailyn Kugler. Kugler picked off a ball in the Pack midfield, found herself on a breakaway and beat Hunt to the far post.
UC Santa Barbara increased its lead to 3-0 in the 43rd minute on a goal by Alissa Sanchez. Hunt kept the Gauchos from increasing their lead in the 44th minute as she punched Kugler’s shot up over the crossbar.
The Gauchos added their final goal of the game in the 50th minute as Genelle Ives scored an unassisted goal.
UC Santa Barbara ended the game with 16 shots (seven on goal) while Nevada finished the game with six (one on goal).
Freshman Natalie Ratnavira took a team-high three shots for Nevada while Drummond added two.
Hunt made three saves for the Pack in her third career start. Ali Cutler made one save for the Gauchos while Laura DiBiase, who replaced Cutler in the 60th minute, did not face a shot.
Nevada will play in the UNLV Rebel Classic August 29 and 31. The Pack will take on UNLV on Friday at 1 p.m. and will play Pacific on Sunday at 1 p.m.
