Arizona Soccer Triumphs 5-0 Over UNLV Despite Multiple Challenges

The Arizona Wildcats secured a decisive 5-0 victory against the UNLV Rebels on March 15, 2025, despite facing numerous interruptions during their season opener. The match, held at Mulcahy Stadium, saw the Wildcats display resilience in the face of lightning delays, lighting issues, and officiating challenges.

The Wildcats took control early, with a strong offensive performance led by sophomores. Aurora Gaines and Narissa Fults each contributed two goals, while Lily Boydstun added another to the scoreline. The Wildcats were dominant in the first half, establishing a commanding lead by the 22nd minute.

Gaines opened the scoring in the ninth minute, assisted by senior Sami Baytosh. Just minutes later, she found the net again, this time off assists from Boydstun and Rose Calkins. Fults added to the tally with a goal from another Baytosh assist, and her play also resulted in an own goal by UNLV, further extending Arizona’s lead.

Head coach Becca Moros praised the contributions of her sophomores but emphasized the vital role of the senior players in setting a strong foundation for the team. “Our senior leadership is tremendous,” Moros stated. “The six seniors we have are solid, reliable, and hardworking. They’ve set a high standard for our young players.”

As the match progressed, UNLV began to apply pressure, particularly in the latter stages of the first half. However, the weather turned adverse, leading to a lightning delay in the 54th minute. After a 30-minute pause, the teams returned to the field for warm-ups.

Tensions escalated as UNLV’s Brooke Gardner was penalized for a foul in the box, resulting in a penalty kick for Arizona. The situation grew contentious when UNLV’s Felicity Garcia engaged in a heated exchange with the referee. The official ended up issuing a yellow card to Garcia, but the delay impacted Fults’ focus, leading to a missed penalty kick.

Moros noted the challenges created by the officiating and the delay, stating, “I think that took too long to take the penalty kick. It’s a tactic to freeze the kicker.” Despite these distractions, the Wildcats maintained their composure.

As if the weather and officiating were not enough, the match faced another setback when the lights in the northwest corner of Mulcahy Stadium went out at 22:00. Despite this, Arizona continued to play, adapting to the darkness in that section of the field.

The Wildcats concluded the night with a strong performance, earning their first victory of the season. “Handling the pressure and distractions was crucial,” Gaines remarked. “We leaned on each other and fed off our own energy, which helped us stay focused.”

With a solid start to the season, the Arizona Wildcats will look to build on this success as they prepare for their upcoming matches.