With a final score of 1-1, the Fresno State women’s soccer team (5-5-3) came away with a draw Thursday night against the University of Las Vegas, Nevada (UNLV) at the Bulldog Soccer Stadium on staff and faculty appreciation night.
With a very physical opponent, senior forward Kaelyn Miller pointed to the Bulldogs’ lack of discipline and their own mistakes which prevented them from getting the win
“We lack at times too that would help us be on top in the end, and that’s on us,” Miller said.
How it happened
The game started off with Fresno State putting the pressure on UNLV with three early corner kicks and a free kick in the fourteenth minute. Fresno State was awarded the free kick after junior forward Anaya Shelton fought for placement on a ball coming down to the field. Shelton lined up the shot and took it, but it wasn’t on target to give Fresno State the early lead.
In the 19th minute, Fresno State was on the receiving end of a counterattack after a turnover off a throw in. Several defenders were still in UNLV’s half of the field when two Rebels were dribbling down the field, and all it took was one accurate pass and a shot on target to give UNLV the lead.
Heading into the closing minutes of the first half, the game was at a stalemate with both teams struggling to find a groove. However, the ‘Dogs would be the aggressors with a shot on target from senior defender Averee Campos after the ball was pinballed around UNLV’s box. Fresno State went into halftime down one.
Entering the second half both teams went back-and-forth, with Fresno State taking the edge. In the 60th minute Fresno State had a chance at a goal, with the ball being passed around in UNLV’s box. The ball would roll into the feet of Campos and when she took the shot, it barely grazed the crossbar as the ‘Dogs would remain down one.
Miller ties it up
Fresno State’s aggressiveness would pay off after they were rewarded with a free kick and a chance to tie the game in the 73rd minute. Mas Serra would be the one taking the kick, instructing her teammates where to go. Just before she took the free kick, she would whisper something to Miller, and she was ready.
Mas Serra would go on to chip the ball right over UNLV’s wall of defenders and into the feet of Miller, who took one touch, adjusted and then took the shot on goal to tie the game 1-1.
The goal moved Miller into a tie with Julie Glaser (2016-17) and Callie Hancock (2009-12) for the seventh most career goals (22) scored in program history.
Miller said this was a play that they work on in practice and she told Mas Serra to chip it in before she took the free kick.
“We’ve been working on free kicks like that and having people in front of the wall,” Miller said. “I actually told Laura to chip it in because we wanted a person on the ball and then touch and pass and shoot.”
Following the goal, both teams were very aggressive on both offense and defense, with both teams bringing their defenders up to the halfway line. As a result, efforts at a chance to win the game were put to a stop by both teams, ending the game in a draw, 1-1.
What’s next?
Fresno State is still searching for its first conference win of 2024. The ‘Dogs will host the University of Nevada, Reno this Sunday, Oct. 13 at noon, where they will celebrate Fresno State soccer alumni.
Any fans wearing pink will get in free in honor of cancer awareness day.
The Bulldogs are 21-2-5 all-time against the Wolfpack, including a 10-0-1 record at home.
