Don’t tell the UCLA men’s soccer team about
lingering regular season losses that tainted their record. This
weekend, the Bruins (15-3-3) polished off both Loyola Marymount
University 4-2, and Cal 3-2 in spectacular showcases of soccer
competition to qualify for the quarterfinals of the NCAA
playoffs.
Although the Bruins lost to LMU 2-0 in late September, they blew
the Lions off Marshall Field last Wednesday. And UCLA’s most
recent 1-0 loss to Cal on Nov. 8 meant nothing as the Bruins sent
the Golden Bears back north victory-less on Saturday night.
“We were excited about playing LMU, because they were one
of our speed bumps during the season,” UCLA head coach Tom
Fitzgerald said.
The Bruins’ postseason play, however, took care of any
remaining questions as to who was capable of contending for the
national title. The Bruin offense, especially junior midfielder
Adolfo Gregorio, did not relent against LMU’s aggressive
play. After UCLA junior forward Cliff McKinley netted the
game’s first goal, the Bruins charged forward and did not
look back. Gregorio was credited with two goals and one assist, and
was unstoppable by LMU defenders.
LMU head coach Paul Krumpe aptly described Wednesday
night’s score as: “Adolfo Gregorio 3, LMU 2, UCLA
1.”
“We wanted to come back from that regular season loss and
show that we were the better team,” Gregorio said. “We
took the game to them instead of letting them bring the game to
us.”
“I would challenge any team to try to come out and
outscore us, the way we’re going,” Fitzgerald said.
After Saturday’s victory over Cal, that challenge is not
one that many teams would voluntarily accept. The Bruins dominated
the game for the first 80 minutes with seamless plays and footwork
that made the field appear peppered with dancing light blue
jerseys. The Bruin offense again created a 2-0 lead at the half
from a free kick rebounded by sophomore defender Aaron Lopez and a
clean shot by McKinley. UCLA junior goalie Zach Wells looked
downright bored in the Bruin box as UCLA’s defense played
up-field, keeping the Golden Bears’ chance at scoring
remote.
“That first half was the best half of soccer I’ve
seen in my whole coaching career,” Fitzgerald said.
However, Wells ““ and the rest of the Bruin defense ““
was kept plenty busy in the last ten minutes of the match. What had
developed to a 3-0 lead by the Bruins was slowly whittled away by
Cal forward Carl Acosta, who scored twice in two minutes. The
Golden Bears would have tied the game, but a shot that hit the
Bruin net was recalled after Cal was called for offsides.
“Cal just wouldn’t give up,” Fitzgerald said.
“There’s something to say for that”¦we were just
too strong.”
Cal’s players took every available chance to shoot, and
after only having one shot on goal in the first half, they finished
the game with 12 shots total ““ which brings new meaning to
the phrase, “nothing to lose, everything to gain.” In
this case, it was two goals, but not enough to bring the score to a
tie.
“We knew we were the better team,” McKinley said.
“We just had to come out here and prove it.”
Mission accomplished.
Ңbull;Ӣbull;Ӣbull;
In the quarterfinals, UCLA will host Penn State on Saturday at 7
p.m.