Today’s homecoming for the men’s soccer team could not have come a day too soon.
The Bruins concluded their tough early road schedule in a less impressive fashion than they would have liked, losing in overtime at Santa Clara, and falling to Cal State Northridge for the first time in the program’s history 3-0.
“We’ve been traveling a lot,” midfielder Kyle Nakazawa said. “I know every one of these players appreciates the night games in the atmosphere we have here. It’s going to be fun. I’m looking forward to it.”
While coach Jorge Salcedo appreciates how the tough schedule early on prepares his team, the Bruins are not satisfied with the results thus far.
The team ranked No. 1 in the country in the preseason sits below .500 with Pac-10 play coming just around the bend.
“It’s gonna be a gut check for our team,” Nakazawa said. “It was a disappointing loss (against CSUN). I know this program had never lost to Northridge. How we turn it around for this game is going to be really important.”
Given the high expectations for the team this season, the Bruins are looking forward to the chance to get back on the winning side when they return to the friendly confines of Drake Stadium, where they are currently undefeated (2-0).
“It’s been a very tough stretch for us with the road games so it’s good to be back at home,” Salcedo said. “We’ve only played two games at home this season. … Guys are excited and very much looking forward to being back.”
While UCLA is already eight games into the 2007 season, Salcedo’s team has only played one weekend at home, when they had great success. The Bruins took down Ohio State 3-1, and handled Penn State 4-1.
UCLA’s matchup tonight against the University of San Diego represents the team’s last opportunity to fine tune before Pac-10 play begins over the weekend against San Diego State.
That fine tuning will include some lineup switching in order to counter the Toreros’ 4-4-2 style of play. Salcedo noted that he planned on using junior Tony Beltran along with sophomore Danny Suits in the middle of the midfield. Midfielder Chance Myers will be moved to the right back position.
“It’s a spot Tony has played in,” Salcedo said.
“He was very good for us at the end of last year. … We’ll have a different look tomorrow night and hopefully it’s good for the group.”
The Bruins will have a different look in both locale and personnel, and are hoping to have the same thing on the scoreboard after 90 minutes.
“I think everyone has a little bit of fire in them,” forward David Estrada said. “We’re going to come back ready.”