LA JOLLA, Calif. – Redshirt freshman
Ava Tibor scored a pair of goals and freshman
Molly Blom added the game-winner as UC San Diego downed visiting UNLV, 3-2, Sunday afternoon at Triton Soccer Stadium. Tibor's brace was her second of the young season, and the reigning Big West Freshman of the Week has already notched four goals – more than twice as many as any other Big West player through the season's first two weeks.
UC San Diego improved to 1-1-1 with the victory while UNLV is now 0-2-1.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Tibor continued her torrid start to the young season, giving UC San Diego an early one-nil lead by converting a penalty kick in the sixth minute. She dribbled into the 18 and was tripped up by a UNLV defender to draw the PK opportunity.
In the 14th minute, UNLV earned its first corner kick and took little time to equalize. Torie Reardon served in the corner and Elisa Corvalan headed the ball into the net to level the match at 1-1. The match remained tied for 15 more minutes, until Tibor put the home team back in front. Senior captain
Lindsey Park ripped a shot in from the top of the box that was saved, but the ball trickled free, and Tibor knocked it in.
Each team had six first half shots with both goalkeepers making one save. Both sides earned one corner kick over the first 45 minutes.
In the second half, the Rebels once again tied the match with a Cassie Villanueva score in the 50th minute. In the 55th, Park had a shot that would have put the Tritons back in the lead, but UNLV keeper Allison Dellis made the save.
The Tritons did forge ahead in the 79th minute when
Molly Blom collected a loose ball and flicked it into the net.
UNLV earned a free kick from close range in the 85th minute but
Charlotte Wilfert made the save to keep UC San Diego on top. Wilfert finished with four saves.
TRITON TIDBITS
- Tibor scored the first four goals of the season for UC San Diego.
- Molly Blom's game-winning goal was the first tally of her Triton career.
- The Tritons wore their white kits for the first time this season, with goalkeeper Charlotte Wilfert in baby blue.
QUOTABLE
UP NEXT
The Tritons hit the road for the first time next Saturday but won't have to travel far. UC San Diego will take on San Diego State at Snapdragon Stadium in a 7 p.m. kick on Aug. 30. Tickets can be purchased through Ticketmaster via promo code UCSD.
About UC San Diego Athletics
After two decades as one of the most successful programs in NCAA Division II, the UC San Diego intercollegiate athletics program has begun a new era as a member of The Big West in NCAA Division I. The 24-sport Tritons earned 30 team and nearly 150 individual national championships during its time in Divisions II and III and helped guide 1,400 scholar-athletes to All-America honors. A total of 83 Tritons have earned Academic All-America honors, while 39 have garnered prestigious NCAA Post Graduate Scholarships. UC San Diego scholar-athletes exemplify the academic ideals of one of the world's preeminent institutions, graduating at an average rate of 90 percent, the highest rate among public institutions in NCAA Division I or II. For more information on the Tritons, visit UCSDtritons.com or follow UC San Diego Athletics on social media @UCSDtritons.average rate of 91 percent, one of the highest rates among institutions at all divisions.
