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LAS VEGAS, Nev. – Junior
Bryan Brody's goal during the 42
nd minute put the HBU men's soccer team ahead 1-0 and was the first of his collegiate career but it wasn't enough as the Huskies dropped a 3-1 decision to UNLV in the Western Athletic Conference opener for both teams on Thursday evening at Johann Memorial Field.
Redshirt-freshman
Jorge Cabrera, making his second start in goal for HBU (3-3-0, 0-1-0 WAC), was forced into action early, facing the first shot on goal in the match during the 13
th minute. Both teams saw opportunities in the first 30 minutes but the score remained knotted at 0-0. At the 33:50 mark, a foul on the Huskies gave UNLV (4-6-0, 1-0-0 WAC) a penalty kick. UNLV senior Danny Musovski lined up for the kick but Cabrera came up big with the save. During the 42
nd minute, Rebel goalkeeper Enrique Adame made a save on a Marc-Anthone free kick but that resulted in a loose ball in front of the net which Brody put a foot on and sent past Adame to the back of the net, giving the Huskies the 1-0 lead which they took into the half.
UNLV's Timo Mehlich was active early in the second half, attempting three shots with one on goal and another blocked by the HBU defense. Meanwhile, for the Huskies,
Darrell Johnson and
Josue Palomino put shots on goal in a two minute stretch but Adame stopped both. The Rebels broke through in the 63
rd minute when Musovski scored on a header with an assist from Oscar Velasquez. It was less than three minutes later that Velasquez and Kevin Partida assisted Mehlich in put UNLV ahead 2-1. Marquis Pitt put the match out of reach late in the 79
th minute with a sliding goal in the box.
UNLV held a 4-1 advantage in corner kicks in the match and out-shot the Huskies 19-11. Cabrera made six saves in net for HBU while Adame was credited with five.
Malik Key led HBU with three shots while Johnson was the lone Husky with more than one attempt on goal.
HBU heads to Phoenix, Ariz. for its next match, taking on Grand Canyon on Sunday, Oct. 1, at 1:00 p.m.