(Las Vegas, Nev. – Oct. 12, 2023) Utah Tech men's soccer played Thursday night, falling 1-0 to the Rebels of UNLV. The result moves Utah Tech's record to 6-6 on the year with a home contest against Air Force scheduled for Sunday afternoon.
 
Miguel Regino started for the first time in his collegiate career as AJ Ciampini almost broke the game open just 14 seconds into the game. Off the game's opening kickoff and ensuing long ball, Ciampini found space on the edge of the box but his curling effort to the far post was saved by a diving UNLV goalkeeper.
 
The Rebels then countered with four shots in the next 10 mintues, twice forcing Stockton Short into action, but the game remained level at zero. Abigay Gomez looked close to finishing with a shot in the 30^th minute that was just high, but it would be the home side that found the game's opening goal as UNLV scored in the 41^st minute with a shot from outside the box.
 
That one-goal advantage would hold into the halftime break.
 
Coming out of the halftime break, Utah Tech looked close to scoring with Bryce Backlund and Ethan Bell forcing back-to-back UNLV saves in the 50^th minute. The close chances continued in the 65^th minute, when Jimi Villasenor was mere inches from a wonder goal, but his bicycle kick bounced off the left post and out.
 
The Trailblazers came close to leveling it in the 90^th minute with back-to-back shots from Stockton Short. After coming up for a last-minute corner kick, Short had a header blocked before finding the ball on the ground and shooting again, but a UNLV defender saved it off the line to preserve a 1-0 lead that would finish in favor of the hosts.
 
Utah Tech held a 13-12 advantage in shots with both teams putting four on frame as the Trailblazers took six corner kicks and drew nine Rebel fouls. Villasenor, Bell and Gomez all finished with multiple shots as Oliver Stone led UT's bench players with 48 minutes of action; Short, Ciampini, Julian Herrera and Angel Saldana all played the full 90 minutes.
 
The Trailblazers return to action against Air Force on Sunday. Kickoff at Greater Zion Stadium is scheduled for 1:30 p.m.