Michael Stephens can only think about what could have been.
With nine minutes remaining in regulation, the senior midfielder had an opportunity to score the potential game-winning goal on a penalty shot, but was instead negated by Oregon State’s Steve Spangler.
Stephens and the Bruins had to settle for the 1-1 draw against the Beavers in double overtime on a cool Friday night at Drake Stadium.
“Usually I wait and see where the goalie goes,” Stephens said afterwards.
Spangler went to his right and Stephens’ shot went directly toward his diving attempt.
“He got a good read on me and didn’t jump too early,” Stephens added. “He caught me off guard and beat me straight up.”
UCLA (9-3-3, 4-1-3 Pac-10) managed to snap its two-game losing streak, but a victory was well within grasp. The scoring opportunities were there.
In the second minute of the first 10-minute overtime period, freshman forward Chandler Hoffman sent a left-footed shot that just missed.
“We didn’t have the worst game, but we couldn’t put them away when we needed to,” Stephens said.
In the third minute of the second overtime, senior forward David Estrada’s undisturbed shot sailed wide right.
“Our concentration level wasn’t there to win the game,” Stephens said.
The lack of concentration was evident on the defensive side as well.
A defensive miscue doomed the Bruins in the 25th minute when senior defender Sean Alvarado failed to clear a dangerous ball near the box. By the time senior goalkeeper Brian Perk charged forward, Oregon State’s Travis Sanchez had beaten Alvarado.
Sanchez gave the Beavers (7-6-3, 3-4-1) a 1-0 lead by nailing a shot past Perk, who seemed to be caught off guard.
Sophomore forward Fernando Monge tied the score in the 44th minute with a goal on a rebound off an acrobatic save by Spangler.
The Bruins, who defeated the Beavers 3-1 on Oct. 2 in Corvallis, Ore., have not won a match since Oct. 24 at California. UCLA hosts Washington at 1 p.m. on Sunday.
“The little things haven’t been going our way,” Stephens said. “It’s something we need to change.”