LAS VEGAS — UC Davis men's soccer fell to UNLV, 1-0, Wednesday night at Peter Johann Memorial Field.
The Aggies (1-8-4, 1-3-1 Mountain West) outshot the Rebels 8-6 after halftime and earned six second-half corner kicks but were unable to find an equalizer. Talin Morgan finished with six saves, including five during the second half.
UC Davis nearly opened the scoring when Rafael Matiello struck the right post at 11:01. UNLV (8-3-2, 4-1-0 Mountain West) scored 55 seconds later, with Maxim Scordo finishing off assists from Kai Merrill and Nick Legendre.
Nami Banks put an attempt on target at 12:59, but UNLV goalkeeper Hugo Lemos made the save. Morgan turned away Scordo in the 17th minute to keep the deficit at one heading into halftime.
The Aggies generated the first four shots of the second half, with Declan Horio, Banks, Ronaldo Melgoza and Michael Bulloch each recording an attempt. Morgan made five saves over the final 24 minutes to keep UC Davis within reach.
UC Davis continued to press late. Luke Castagnola sent a shot wide in the 83rd minute before Josh Gault forced Lemos into a save at 84:22. Following the Aggies' final corner kick, Isaac Chacing sent an attempt over the goal with 35 seconds remaining.
Matiello led UC Davis with three shots, while Banks added two. UNLV finished with a 15-11 advantage in shots and a 7-2 edge in shots on goal. The Aggies held a 7-6 advantage in corner kicks.
UC Davis continues its road trip at Air Force at noon PT Sunday, Oct. 18.
GAME NOTES
- Morgan recorded six saves, including five after halftime.
- UC Davis outshot UNLV 8-6 during the second half.
- The Aggies earned six of their seven corner kicks after halftime.
- Matiello led UC Davis with three shots and hit the post in the 12th minute.
- Banks and Gault accounted for the Aggies' two shots on goal.
ABOUT UC DAVIS ATHLETICS
UC Davis Athletics represents one of the nation's premier public universities on the NCAA Division I stage, with more than 650 student-athletes competing across 25 sports, including 16 programs in the Mountain West Conference. Located in California's quintessential college town, UC Davis combines championship-level athletics with the academic excellence of the nation's #8 public research university and is home to the nation's No. 1 programs in agriculture, veterinary medicine and sustainability. With a growing national media presence, bold investments in facilities and the student-athlete experience, and a tradition of developing champions in competition, in the classroom and beyond, the Aggies are elevating UC Davis on a national stage.
