Soccer takes to the road for a pair

September 2, 2010 by Sage Sammons 

UNLV will face Drake and either Colorado or Denver

The UNLV women’s soccer team hit the road this weekend to compete in the Denver Invitational in Denver, Colo. They are putting their 3-0 record on the line against Drake and, if they win, against either Colorado or the host, Denver.

Leading the team will be senior forward Ashleigh Shoughro, who earned her third career Mountain West Conference player of the week title this week for her efforts in the last two games. She set a new Rebel record and tied an MWC one by scoring four goals last Friday night in a 5-2 victory over Albany.

She came back and scored two more on Sunday in a 4-0 victory over Louisiana-Monroe. Her efforts early this season have made her the MWC leader in goals (6) and points (12).

The Rebels will first take on the Drake Bulldogs at 3:30 p.m. on Saturday. The Bulldogs are 2-0-2 so far this season and they have yet to play a game at home. Drake has only scored four goals on the season, each one coming from a different player, and they only have one assist coming from sophomore Kasey Wellman.

Wellman also leads the team with 12 shots but has not yet found the back of the goal this season. The Bulldogs have yet to allow a goal in the second half of any of their games, despite being outshot by opponents 32-30. Freshman Kalena Litch has been solid in goal, as she only allowed one goal this season and has recorded a total of 23 saves.

If the Rebels win, they will face the winner of Colorado and Denver. But if they fall to the Bulldogs, they will play the losers of the latter match.

Colorado is 2-0 on the year and is coming off of a 2-0 victory over Northern Colorado. The Buffaloes are led by senior Kym Lowry in goals (2), assists (2) and points (6). She was also acknowledged as the CU Athlete of the Week last week.

In goal, freshman An-nie Brunner has yet to allow a goal this season and has 11 saves on the year. This will be the first away game for the Buffaloes this season.

Denver is 1-1 on the season and is coming off of a 3-0 victory over the University of Buffalo. Four different Pioneers have scored this year and sophomore Kaitlin Bast leads the team with two assists. The Pioneers are 1-0 at home and are currently in sixth in the Sun Belt Conference.

After their trip to the Mile High City, the Rebels return home for four straight home games. The first is the UNLV Nike Classic where the Rebels will face Oregon and Cal State Northridge.