The men’s soccer team has revenge on its mind.
UCLA takes on Santa Clara tonight at 7 p.m. in the second round of the NCAA tournament in a rematch of their close 2-1 overtime loss on Sept. 22. In that game on the road, the Bruins were leading before forward Richard Flores was hit with a red card. The team then gave up a late goal that tied the game, before falling in overtime.
If UCLA gets the best of seventh-seeded Santa Clara, then it would likely face Notre Dame in South Bend, Ind. in the third round of the tournament. The Fighting Irish also beat the Bruins 2-1 in overtime to open up this season back on Aug. 31.
“I guess we have to go on a little revenge tour,” sophomore Kyle Nakazawa said.
“Last time we were up there (at Santa Clara) we knew we had the better of the game but we didn’t come back with a win.”
UCLA’s loss at Santa Clara is one that has not sat well with the team all season. The Bruins were up 1-0 after a goal from Mike Zaher in the 38th minute. But the red card to Flores in the 68th minute gave them a crucial disadvantage. Santa Clara’s Peter Lowry, WCC Player of the Year, hit a one-timer into the back of the net in the 86th minute to force overtime.
Carrying the momentum over from regulation, Santa Clara got the game winner 39 seconds into the first overtime period on a chipshot from midfielder Jeff Cosgriff.
“I’m actually really looking forward to (the rematch),” goalkeeper Brian Perk said. “We played up there at their place. If we didn’t get a red card it’s a different game. They score in the last minute and we’re just demoralized.
“It will be nice to get them back at their place and see what happens.”
The Broncos went on to have a very successful season after facing UCLA. Santa Clara entered the NCAA Tournament as the No. 3 team in the nation, having amassed a record of 15-1-4.
Additionally, the Broncos come into the second-round matchup against the Bruins with a 17-game unbeaten streak. The last time the team lost was a 2-1 road loss at Brown in early September.
Despite their high national ranking, Santa Clara is only seeded seventh in the tournament. Regardless, the Bruins enter the game ready for a second chance at their opponents.
“The game that we played up there I thought we played pretty well, well enough to maybe win the game,” coach Jorge Salcedo said. “Santa Clara is a team that doesn’t play their best soccer in terms of possession and things like that, but they’re a very effective team. They’re very difficult at home, so we’re gonna be ready to go up there for a battle.”
The Bruins are relieved to have Perk listed as probable for the second round matchup. Perk took a hard fall late in UCLA’s 1-0 first round win over New Mexico and it was unclear whether or not he would be ready to go. The sophomore who has started every game for UCLA this season has been undergoing treatments and is not expected to miss any playing time.
Also expected back is junior midfielder Jason Leopoldo who had to miss the New Mexico game. Leopoldo was out with a sprained ankle he sustained in the team’s final game of the regular season against San Diego State.
The Bruins are hoping to capitalize on their high-stakes shot at revenge, which if they do, would send them deep into the tournament and toward their original goal of fighting for another shot at an NCAA title.