The Nevada Sagebrush

Nevada wins WAC opener for second year in a row

Tuesday, October 6, 2009 - 12:36 AM

Nevada midfielder Annabelle Allen chases a ball down the sideline at Mackay Stadium during the Wolf Pack’s 1-0 victory over Utah State. With the win, Nevada has won two straight Western Athletic Conference-opening games. Photo by John Callahan/The Nevada Sagebrush

The Nevada soccer team opened Western Athletic Conference play on Sunday with a 1-0 shutout victory over Utah State, the 2008 WAC regular-season champions.

Nevada’s one and only goal was made unassisted in the 36th minute of the first half by Natalie Ratnavira. She beat two defenders down the left side of the field and cut in towards goal. Ratnavira beat Utah State goalkeeper Molli Merrill with a shot to the right post for the game-winner.

The score was her second of the season.

The win marked the second year in a row the Wolf Pack has won its first conference game.

Entering this game, Nevada was 3-8 while Utah State, who was picked first in the WAC preseason coaches’ poll, was 5-6-1.

Wolf Pack head coach Jaime Frias said with the non-conference season now over, the team has fully focused on the upcoming WAC play.

“We split the season up into three parts: non-conference, conference and post-season play,” he said. “We’re in the second part of that cycle and it’s crucial. This part gets us into post-season play. We have to be the aggressor and we have to take it to teams, especially here at home.”

Junior Cristen Drummond saw her first game action on Sunday since the Wolf Pack’s season-opener on Aug. 21 at the University of California, Berkeley, where she suffered a sprained ligament after being taken out from behind.

“There’s been a great deal of injuries throughout the year,” Frias said. “At one point, out of the 23 players who came into camp, we had 11 training. Having (Drummond) back, having another healthy body back, is tremendous to this team.”

Drummond was named to the 2009 Preseason all-WAC Team and was Nevada’s leading scorer last year.

“That was difficult being taken out in the first game and at first I didn’t even know what the injury was,” Drummond said. “(The doctors) said (my) season might be completely over with; it was very heart-breaking.”

Drummond entered the game halfway through the first half and recorded one shot on goal.

Nevada’s next home game will be at 7 p.m. Oct. 16 when they welcome the San Jose State Spartans to Mackay Stadium. The Spartans finished 5-4 in non-conference play and are 1-0 in WAC play this season.

Chris Gabriel can be reached at sports@nevadasagebrush.com.