Reyes hit the game winning goal in double OT, ending what was a physically exhausting Mountain West matchup.
In the first period, UNLV kept a high amount of pressure on the Lady Bulldogs, kicking four extra shots than them. However, Fresno State walked out of the first half with the 1-0 lead. This only fueled the Rebels for the rest of the game.
“I think it just kinda lit a fire under our butts,” says Emberly Sevilla, goalie for the Rebels, “Everytime something doesn’t go our way, our response has been amazing, we're a very resilient team… we wanna come back ten times harder.”
This seemed to be the truth, as the team seemed more aggressive at the start of the second, and it shows in the stats with UNLV having twelve shots total, eight of them on goal.
Reyes put the pressure on in the back half of the game and willed the Rebels to victory being the only one to score the rest of the game. One at 52:25 in period two, and the game winner at 7:29 in the second overtime.
Her teammates, and Head Coach Ruiz-Williams were excited and happy for Reyes.
“The way that Ari [Reyes] tugs on this whole team’s heartstrings, you couldn’t have written a better story,” Ruiz-Williams said after the game. “Everyone is so behind her and she has been getting in those areas all year and to see it finally happen was just beautiful.”
The Rebels are already looking ahead to their upcoming game against San Diego State, on senior night. UNLV lost to the Lady Aztecs once this year, but look to enact revenge. The game kicks off at 7pm on April 3 at Peter Johann Memorial Field.
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