Sept. 2, 2008

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UNLV (2-0-0 overall, 0-0-0 MPSF) is off to its best start in six years with a pair of wins to start the 2008 season. The Rebels knocked off 2007 Atlantic Sun Champion Jacksonville 2-0 and Radford 2-1 in the UNLV Classic to reach a 2-0 record for the first time since the 2002 season. Sophomore Daniel Cruz put away three of the four Rebel goals on the weekend, attempting just five total shots, while senior John Crawley was credited with an assist in each game. Senior goalkeeper Hawk Mummey totaled nine saves and one shutout. UNLV heads to the Cal State Fullerton Tournament this week, taking on the host Titans Friday (Sept. 5), followed by Cal State Northridge Sunday (Sept. 7).

SACRAMENTO STATE (2-0-0 overall, 0-0-0 MPSF) won both of its games to start the 2008 season, 1-0 over CS Bakersfield and 2-0 over Long Island in the annual Copa de Causeway Tournament in Sacramento. In Friday's opener, senior Blake Nunes struck in the sixth minute, all the Hornets would need to take down the Roadrunners. Sophomore Ernesto Carranza and freshman Chris Bettencourt assisted on the early goal. Sunday, Bettencourt along with junior transfer Scott Crandall each tallied in the win over the Blackbirds. Freshman goalkeeper Brian Oliver saved nine shots and recorded two shutouts in his first two collegiate contests. Nunes, Bettencourt, and senior defender Omar Martinez, who assisted on a Sunday goal, were named to the all-tournament team. Sac State competes in another tournament this weekend at St. Mary's, where it meets UC Irvine Friday (Sept. 5) and Houston Baptist Sunday (Sept. 7).

# 21 NEW MEXICO (1-0-1 overall, 0-0-0 MPSF) opened its 2008 season by winning the Loyola Marymount Fall Classic with one win and one tie. The 21st-ranked Lobos tied the host Lions 1-1 in the season opener last Friday, and followed up with a 2-1 overtime win against the University of San Diego Sunday. Junior Stephen Brown provided the game-winner less than two minutes into the extra session against the Toreros. San Diego took an early 1-0 lead after the first five minutes, which turned out to be its lone shot on-goal the entire day. Senior tournament MVP Chris Wright tied the game 1-1 with about four minutes left in regulation. Sophomore Ryan Farquharson assisted on both the game-tying and game-winning goals. Junior Euan Holden scored in the 24th-minute in the double-overtime draw vs. LMU, while sophomore goalkeeper Eric Staver registered six saves. New Mexico will play its home opener Friday (Sept. 5) against Michigan State, followed by hosting Louisville Sunday (Sept. 7)....

SAN JOSE STATE (1-0-1 overall, 0-0-0 MPSF) shutout Notre Dame de Namur 3-0 and tied Stanford 1-1 in the first two games of the year this past weekend. Both goals in the Cardinal game occurred in the opening moments, with Stanford scoring in the third-minute and the Spartans answering in the fifth. Sophomore Ricky Dorrego tallied for the Spartans on an assist by junior Colby Moore. Moore also dished out the game-winning assist in the ninth-minute against Notre Dame de Namur. The Spartans are off this week, and are next in action Sept. 10 at home against the University of San Francisco.

DENVER (0-2-0 overall, 0-0-0 MPSF) fell 3-1 to Dayton Friday and 2-1 to Wisconsin Sunday to kickoff the season in the Dayton Invitational. Sophomore Ryan Aweida assisted senior Leon Abravanel late in the Flyer game, while freshman Jarod Stigall found senior Colin Jones against the Badgers. Sophomore goalkeeper Teale Stone stopped five shots Sunday. Jones, as well as sophomore defender Michael Perry, were all-tournament honorees. No. 30 Loyola-Chicago visits Denver in the home opener Friday (Sept. 5). The Pioneers are 2-0-1 all-time against the Ramblers.

AIR FORCE (0-2-0 overall, 0-0-0 MPSF) dropped its first two matches of the year, 2-1 at No. 9 UC Santa Barbara and 2-0 at No. 24 Cal Poly. Sophomore Ryan Robinson scored in the 69th-minute against the Gauchos, his first career goal, assisted by junior Steve Noller. Junior goalkeeper Jim Gullo collected eight saves in each game. Loyola-Chicago visits the Air Force Academy on Sunday (Sept. 7) in the Falcons home opener.

CRUZ NAMED MPSF BRINE PLAYER OF THE WEEK Woodland, Calif. - UNLV sophomore forward Daniel Cruz (Glendale, AZ/Ironwood HS) scored the first three goals of the Rebels' season this past weekend. He tallied both goals against last year's Atlantic Sun Champion Jacksonville on Saturday, including the game-winner, and followed up with the first strike against Radford on Monday. Cruz attempted five shots all weekend, converting on three. UNLV is 2-0 for the first time since 2002.