Tuesday, August 29
UC Riverside
2
vs
1
UNLV
Solorzano's Pair Lifts UCR to 2-1 Home Opener Win Over UNLV
8/29/2006 2:49:00 PM | Men's Soccer
Riverside—UC Riverside senior midfielder Erasmo Solorzano scored twice, including the game-winner with 3:28 remaining, as the Highlanders posted a 2-1 victory over visiting UNLV Tuesday in their home opener at UCR Soccer Stadium. The Highlanders gain their first win of the season to improve to 1-2-0 while dropping the Rebels to 0-2-0.
The only senior in UCR's starting lineup, Solorzano could not have picked a better time to record his first career two-goal game. After opening the scoring at 19:02 with a curling free kick, he netted the game-winner in the dying minutes. Junior goalkeeper Charles Alamo started the move, finding sophomore defender David Watson on a long throw out from defense. Watson passed to junior midfielder Andrew Villalobos, who dissected the Rebel defense at a full sprint. From just outside the penalty area, he found a cutting Solorzano, who took one touch before firing low past UNLV goalie Brett Hafeman. In one day, Solorzano doubled his career goal total while Villalobos got his third assist of the season.
UCR had most of the run of play but could never put the determined Rebels away. Solorzano gave the Highlanders the lead in the 20th minute when he curled a right-footed free kick from 24 yards into the lower right corner.
The Highlanders looked like they had secured a lead at halftime but UNLV drew level just before the break. Alamo produced a fine diving save off a rocket from Nicholas Paterson, turning it over for a corner. From the ensuing kick, Paterson found the head of Hakim Zermouni, whose header beat Alamo for the equalizer at 43:24.
UCR had two chances to go ahead in the second half. Solorzano almost gave UCR the lead in the 54th minute when his point-blank shot was pushed onto the crossbar by Hafeman. In the 72nd minute, freshman forward Jeremy Clay ripped a left-footed shot that barely grazed the outside of the post. After Solorzano's second goal, UNLV had one last opportunity but Alamo pawed out a free kick from Paterson to preserve the win.
Alamo made four saves while Hafeman stopped two for UNLV. The win gives UCR a 3-2 all-time advantage against the Rebels, having won three in a row.
The only senior in UCR's starting lineup, Solorzano could not have picked a better time to record his first career two-goal game. After opening the scoring at 19:02 with a curling free kick, he netted the game-winner in the dying minutes. Junior goalkeeper Charles Alamo started the move, finding sophomore defender David Watson on a long throw out from defense. Watson passed to junior midfielder Andrew Villalobos, who dissected the Rebel defense at a full sprint. From just outside the penalty area, he found a cutting Solorzano, who took one touch before firing low past UNLV goalie Brett Hafeman. In one day, Solorzano doubled his career goal total while Villalobos got his third assist of the season.
UCR had most of the run of play but could never put the determined Rebels away. Solorzano gave the Highlanders the lead in the 20th minute when he curled a right-footed free kick from 24 yards into the lower right corner.
The Highlanders looked like they had secured a lead at halftime but UNLV drew level just before the break. Alamo produced a fine diving save off a rocket from Nicholas Paterson, turning it over for a corner. From the ensuing kick, Paterson found the head of Hakim Zermouni, whose header beat Alamo for the equalizer at 43:24.
UCR had two chances to go ahead in the second half. Solorzano almost gave UCR the lead in the 54th minute when his point-blank shot was pushed onto the crossbar by Hafeman. In the 72nd minute, freshman forward Jeremy Clay ripped a left-footed shot that barely grazed the outside of the post. After Solorzano's second goal, UNLV had one last opportunity but Alamo pawed out a free kick from Paterson to preserve the win.
Alamo made four saves while Hafeman stopped two for UNLV. The win gives UCR a 3-2 all-time advantage against the Rebels, having won three in a row.
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