By Alex Guzman – Spear Reporter | (Photo Courtesy of SJSU Athletics)
San Jose State sophomore forward Amir Anwary scored to even the game in the first half, but the Spartans fell 2-1 to the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (5-3-2, 1-1-0 MW) on Wednesday at Peter Johann Memorial Field in Las Vegas.
UNLV struck first in the 25th minute, when redshirt senior forward Nick Legendre scored with a right-footed shot into the bottom right corner. Junior midfielder Joaquín Eisenberg and Pol Izquierdo Garcia assisted on the goal.
Two minutes later, Anwary responded with a right-footed shot into the bottom left corner off a pass from junior forward Jordi Tortell Daly. It was Anwary’s third goal of the season, sending the teams into halftime tied at 1-1.
“We scored a great goal. We responded well from their first goal,” SJSU interim head coach Jesus “Chuy” Sanchez said.
Play was halted in the 17th minute when glass was found on the field, causing a delay of about 30 minutes. The goals came after the interruption.
The Rebels pulled ahead again in the 59th minute when UNLV sophomore forward Maxim Scordo converted a penalty kick. SJSU responded with increased pressure, adding eight additional shots to the two from the first half, but couldn’t find the equalizer.
The Spartans’ best look came in the 73rd minute, when they earned a penalty kick of their own. Junior midfielder Neo Ruiz stepped up to take the shot, but his attempt struck the crossbar.
Despite a second-half push, the missed scoring opportunity left SJSU winless in its two conference plays. Afterward, Sanchez was blunt about the team’s performance.
“It’s hard to find too many positives,” Sanchez said.
Senior midfielder Daniel Fregoso Bautista led the Spartans with four shots. Redshirt senior goalkeeper Ronin Axelson made five saves, including three stops on Scordo across the first and second halves, and now has 42 total saves this season.
Tortell Daly recorded an assist for the second consecutive game, and Wednesday was his third of the season.
Looking ahead to Sunday, Sanchez said he expects a difficult matchup against Grand Canyon University after a 2-1 loss to the Antelopes last season.
“Still probably one of the, if not the best team in the conference, in terms of the quality of players that [GCU] have,” Sanchez said. “Similar to last year’s final, it’s gonna be a tough game”
SJSU will travel to face Grand Canyon at 7 p.m. Sunday at GCU stadium in Phoenix, Ariz.
