LAS VEGAS – A historic pair of matches kicked the 2023 WAC Men’s Soccer Tournament into full gear at Peter Johann Memorial Field on Sunday. No. 4 and host UNLV began the tournament with a thrilling 3-2 win in overtime against No. 5 Utah Valley. No. 3 Utah Tech held serve in the nightcap against No. 6 San José State with a 1-0 shutout victory.
 
UNLV advanced to the first tournament semifinal on Nov. 8 against No. 1 seed Seattle U at 4 p.m. PT. Utah Tech will follow with a showdown against No. 2 seed California Baptist at 7 p.m. PT in the second semifinal of the day on Nov. 8.
 
No. 4 UNLV 3, No. 5 Utah Valley 2 (OT)
 
UNLV’s Nico Lopez recorded the first hat trick in WAC Men’s Soccer Tournament history in the Rebels’ 3-2 win in overtime against Utah Valley. Lopez opened the scoring at 18:59, tied the match at 73:07 and scored the eventual match-winner at 106:30 of the second overtime period. UNLV finished the contest with a 23-17 edge in shots (7-4 in shots on goal).
 
Tom Dobek-Pietrowski scored both goals for Utah Valley, finding the back of the net in the 62nd and 73rd minutes.
 
No. 3 Utah Tech 1, No. 6 San José State 0
 
Utah Tech earned the first conference tournament match win for the program at the Division I level with a competitive 1-0 clean sheet against perennial WAC tournament contender San José State. The Trailblazers finished with a slim 10-9 edge in shots against the Spartans.
 
Austin Wallace collected a brilliant drop pass on the left flank from Jimi Villasenor and rocketed a strike into the goal at 25:34 to provide the match’s lone goal. Stockton Short was credited with three saves in the Utah Tech frame in victory.