Triple threat for UNLV

Trio of Gator graduates helping keep Rebels undefeated

Richard Brian

Green Valley High graduate Elizabeth Billington is a midfielder for the UNLV women’s soccer team.

Thursday, Sept. 11, 2008 | midnight

Green Valley High graduate Ana Guida got a jump on the season for UNLV when another defender was sidelined with an injury.

Richard Brian

Green Valley High graduate Hailey Garrison, who now plays for the UNLV women's soccer team, kicks a ball during practice at the Peter Johann Memorial Soccer Field.

Fans of the UNLV women's soccer team might mistake the Rebels' Peter Johann Memorial Soccer Field for a Green Valley High satellite field this season as three former Gators are suiting up for the scarlet and grey.

Coming off a Southern Nevada state runner-up finish in their final season of high school ball, freshmen Ana Guida, Hailey Garrison and Liz Billington are starting their college careers with UNLV.

Five games into the season the Rebels are undefeated (3-0-1) and all three have seen field time, especially in the 5-1 route of in-state rival UNR on Aug. 29.

"I knew coming in that we were freshmen and we were going to have to prove ourselves first so I wasn't really expecting to play much this year," Guida said. "I kind of set myself up to sit the bench for the most part and just work hard in practice. Then coach asked me to step in."

While Garrison and Billington are still working their way into the new system, Guida was tossed into the fire when defender Dani Morin was sidelined with an injury. Guida said she has seen a whole new world of competition.

"It's been so different in pretty much every way," she said. "Everyday it gets more competitive. Everything is just larger in scale. It takes a lot of hard work to keep up but it's a lot of fun."

Billington, a midfielder, said the biggest difference between high school and college has been the speed of the game.

"I know I'm here to practice and work my way onto the field but when I got into the Reno game I was super excited," Billington said. "It was tough because you had to push a lot harder. Everything was sped up. Everything goes 100 mph."

UNLV coach Katherine Mertz said recruiting locals is a priority for her program.

"All three girls have a great attitude and came in with a good base to work with," Mertz said.

Mertz said Guida handled the pressure of early field time well. She added that Billington and Garrison are both hard workers who are beginning to adapt to the UNLV style of play.

"Coming into a new team and new system and new coach has been weird and tough," Garrison, a midfielder, said. "It's definitely been easier having (former high school teammates) on the team with me. We know what each other is going through."

Jared Harmon can be reached at 990-8922 or jared.harmon@hbcpub.com.