M. soccer: Offense's lapses cost wins for UCLA

It’s going to happen.

Men’s soccer coach Jorge Salcedo promises.

“Mark my word,” Salcedo said. “We’re
going to score goals, we’re going to score a lot.”

Over the past few weeks, the Bruins (5-2-2, 1-1 Pac-10) have
struggled mightily on the offensive side.

The opportunities have been there. But their shots have gone
astray.

In their first 10 games, the Bruins have netted a combined 17
goals against their opponents, a total that was accomplished in
only six games last season.

The team’s second leading scorer and last year’s
Pac-10 Co-Freshman of the Year Chad Barrett may be experiencing the
worst drought of all the players.

Only one of two players to post double digits in goals scored
last year, Barrett has only notched one goal thus far.

“Goal scorers get hot and cold,” Salcedo said.
“Chad, everyone looks for him to be main goal scorer, but
it’s not just his burden, it’s the team’s
burden.

“When we look at tape from the losses, we have so many
good shot opportunities. We’re bound to turn the corner and
score goals.”

The losses and ties that have plagued the Bruins were marked by
missed opportunities on offense.

Both of the team’s losses have been by a lone goal. Their
first was a 3-2 defeat to Creighton in the UNLV tournament
championship game and the other a 1-0 loss to Washington, marking
the Bruins’ first conference loss in their last 12 conference
matches.

Though confidence is something the team doesn’t lack, a
strong team effort is what is missing.

“The team has to understand, we have amazing
ability,” said freshman forward Kamani Hill, who has scored
two goals this season.

“We have so much individual talent, but what we do lack is
a unified goal. We’re forcing too much, we just need to let
the goals come naturally.”

Only six players have scored this season, three of them
converting only a single goal.

“Some don’t want to work hard to score,” Lopez
said. “But once they realize that they’re going to only
get a few shots per game, then hopefully they’ll start
converting.

“The whole team hasn’t stacked up. We have one of
the best teams in the country. I think we’re
underachieving.”

If anything, the struggles on offense ultimately put even more
pressure on the Bruins’ defense.

With opponents continuing to halt the majority of the Bruin
attacks, the defense finds itself in a precarious situation.

“There’s no room for mistake,” Lopez said.
“If one mistake goes through, we’re going to lose that
game. We need to get support.

“I’m a little disappointed that we haven’t
scored goals. The thing that’s missing is the scrambling
goals where you get those goals and put them in.”

If scrambling is what it’s going to take to score goals,
don’t be surprised if Salcedo and the team slide, tackle,
dive and do whatever it takes to put the ball in the net.

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