What a goal it was

Tuesday, Nov. 8, 2005 | 8:04 a.m.

Her pedigree more than hinted at athletic talent. But UNLV sophomore forward Katie Carney began making a name for herself Saturday by scoring the most important goal of her career at Peter Johann Memorial Field.

She scored the only goal of the game to beat New Mexico almost six minutes into overtime of the Mountain West Conference tournament championship and send the Rebels to the NCAA tournament for the second consecutive season.

First-year UNLV coach Kat Mertz and her 13-6-3 team play Cal State Fullerton (17-3) at the Titans' campus in Friday's first round. Southern California plays Gonzaga in the site's other game, then the winners meet.

A year ago, the Rebels lost 1-0 in double overtime to the University of San Diego in the first round of the NCAA tourney at UCLA, when Mertz was an assistant coach.

"We want to at least get past the first round," Carney said. "We're a lot better than we were last year. We should do better."

Carney's father, Terence, was an all-league basketball player at University of the Pacific. Two uncles, Cormac (UCLA) and Brian (Air Force), played collegiate football. Jake Carney, a cousin, is a strong safety at Notre Dame.

"Without a doubt," said a teary-eyed Terence Carney, when asked if the eight-yard strike by his daughter was the goal of her life. Mom Cindy Carney, on her 49th birthday, was just as thrilled to see Katie lift the league tournament's burnished soccer-ball MVP trophy.

"I saw the ball, then I saw another (Rebel) in front and I was hoping she was going through," Katie Carney said. "The whole time, right when I got it, I wasn't going to pass it. I just turned and shot. I did not want to go to penalty kicks."

It was the 12th goal of her career. She meant no offense to former coach Dan Abdalla, who moved on to Texas Christian after the 2004 season, but Carney believes the Rebels are much better this season.

"Kat completely changed the whole makeup ... and she puts us in better situations," Carney said. "Kat just has a different feel, different tactics. We play to our strengths, and we're more offensive. Instead of (always) kicking it long, we have speed and we use that to our advantage.

"The whole morale of the team is different. Everybody wants it more, and we want to work harder for her."

STRONG DEBUT

Mertz, a former North Carolina State goalie, had to forge a path of her own in her first season as a head coach upon taking over a program that had just been to the NCAA tournament.

Getting back to the game's premier stage accomplished part of her first-year mission.

"That was our goal since August," Mertz said. "And, oh my gosh, we knew (New Mexico) was going to be a battle. We were on our heels the whole time."

Until Carney came to the rescue.

"Katie's a competitor," Mertz said. " She's technical and crafty, and I'm excited for her."

After fielding a cell-phone call on the field, Mertz turned her attention to the first round, which will take place at Fullerton.

"We have to keep possession of the ball," she said. "We have to maintain it. We can't get into a kicking battle. I've told them that from day one. We have to get it out wide."

SUPER SUPPORT

Abdalla, whose Horned Frogs were eliminated by UNLV in the league tournament, stuck around to the end to cheer on the Rebels, and many fans and friends stopped to chat with him in the bleachers.

After Saturday's triumph, he even celebrated -- with a soda -- with several of his former UNLV players at a nearby British pub.

Also, Rebels basketball coach Lon Kruger and his wife, Barbara, offered congratulations and hugs to Mertz on the field 10 minutes after Carney's golden goal.

ELSEWHERE

The draw for the next summer's World Cup in Germany will be Dec. 9, in Leipzig. Germany is currently an 11-2 Mandalay Bay pick on its home turf. Brazil, the current world No. 1, which boasts stars such as Adriano, Kaka, Ronaldo, Ronaldinho and Robinho, is the 5-2 favorite.

Some other choices look attractive, however. Holland, second in the FIFA world rankings, is seventh on the odds chart at 8-1. Sweden, with Henrik Larsson, is 30-1. Ukraine, with AC Milan striker Andriy Shevchenko, is 35-1.

Happy punting.

Rob Miech can be reached at 259-4087 or miech@lasvegassun.com