CBU 2, UNLV 1 (PDF Box Score)

LAS VEGAS – No. 2 seed California Baptist made Western Athletic Conference (WAC) Men’s Soccer Tournament history by becoming the first team to repeat as WAC tournament champion in the sport. An 82nd-minute goal by CBU standout Luis Mueller powered the Lancers to a 2-1 win over host No. 4 seed UNLV on Saturday in the 2023 WAC Men’s Soccer Tournament title match at a jam-packed Peter Johann Memorial Field.
 
In not only becoming the first WAC men’s soccer team to successfully defend the tournament championship, CBU joined Seattle U (5), UNLV (2) and Fresno State (2) as the fourth squad from the conference to win multiple WAC tournament titles in the sport. The Lancers have yet to lose a WAC Men’s Soccer Tournament match, improving to 4-0-1 since making their debut in the event in 2022.
 
UNLV reached the WAC final for the third time, and first since the 2016 season. The Rebels were tournament champions of the conference in both 2014 and 2016.
 
Mueller was named the tournament’s Most Outstanding Player after finishing with three goals and an assist over two starts, scoring the opening goal in the 19th minute before finding the winner in the 82nd minute against UNLV. Nico Lopez added his tournament-high fourth goal to square the match at 1-1 in the 61st minute for UNLV.
 
CBU was represented on the WAC All-Tournament Team by defender Thomas Beecham, forward Leo Mendez, goalkeeper Nolan Premack and Mueller. UNLV players earning all-tournament honors were midfielder Brophy Howard, Lopez, midfielder Hermann Ragnarsson and forward Gabe Sanchez. Other players named to the all-tournament team were Seattle U midfielder Mo Mohamed, Utah Tech midfielder Austin Wallace and Utah Valley defender Tom Dobek-Pietrowski.
 
2023 WAC Men’s Soccer All-Tournament Team
Mo Mohamed, MF, Seattle U
Austin Wallace, MF, Utah Tech
Tom Dobek-Pietrowski, D, Utah Valley
Brophy Howard, MF, UNLV
Nico Lopez, MF, UNLV
Hermann Ragnarsson, MF, UNLV
Gabe Sanchez, F, UNLV
Thomas Beecham, D, California Baptist
Leo Mendez, F, California Baptist
Luis Mueller, F, California Baptist (Most Outstanding Player)
Nolan Premack, GK, California Baptist