Rebels start 2-0 in soccer

Steve Carp

Wednesday, Sept. 9, 1998 | 9:22 a.m.

These are the kinds of starts Barry Barto likes.

To win the season-opening tournament with strong play out of the back and an opportunistic attack, the UNLV soccer coach is smiling today after the Rebels took the Coors Light Classic over the weekend at Peter Johann Field.

A 1-0 win over St. Mary's Sunday came on the heels of a 3-1 win over Sacramento State Friday. But the idea of a 2-0 beginning for a program which won just five games total a year ago has Barto hopeful.

The last time UNLV kicked off a season with back-to-back wins was 1989. That team finished 11-9. If this team can come close to matching that mark, Barto would be thrilled.

'I'm pleased with the way the kids worked hard for us," he said. "'We knew we'd make some mistakes but as long as we got the effort, I thought we'd get the results.

"We moved the ball pretty good. Defensively, we were solid. The goalkeeping was good. Both (Ryan) Bledsoe and Russell (Miller) played strong and we'll keep playing them."

Kiko Medina's goal in the fifth minute was all UNLV needed against St. Mary's as the defense, led by Todd Roberts, Geoff Barto, T'Jon Akins and Mike Griego, helped keep the Gaels in check and provide Miller with his first shutout. Miller faced just eight shots and made four saves.

The defense did more than its share against Sacramento State. Griego, a former forward now playing sweeper, scored, as did Roberts, the team's stopper. Newcomer Tyler Turchi also scored, and Barto is expecting big things from the freshman from Arkansas.

"He's been a very pleasant surprise. He and (Jason) Melendez are a handful. They work well together and they're a handful.

The Rebels are back in action this weekend at Peter Johann Field, hosting Memphis at 7 p.m. Friday in the Snickers/Fila Rebel Classic, then meeting Central Florida at noon Sunday. UC Santa Barbara is the fourth team in the field.

WOMEN WIN TOURNEY: Any pressure of trying to gain that initial victory has passed for the first-year UNLV women's soccer program. Staci Hendershott's team completed a successful weekend by winning the Falcon Invitational in Colorado Springs by defeating Air Force 2-1 and Denver 1-0. UNLV was led by tourney MVP Anita Pedford, who scored the winning goal against Air Force and also assisted on Breanna Seaton's goal against the Falcons. Amy Scala's goal in the 58th minute against Denver was all the Rebels would need as the defense, led by goalkeeper Shannon Wilson's six saves, posted the program's first shutout. The Rebels have the entire week to prepare for their home debut at Peter Johann Field Sunday against Michigan State. Not only is the 4 p.m. the first home game, it also puts Hendershott against her alma mater.