The final whistle that sounded throughout Drake Stadium on Monday did not just signal the end of the UCLA men’s soccer match, but also the end of an era.
UCLA’s 2-1 loss to Washington ended the second-longest conference win streak in school history. The Bruins had won 16 straight conference games dating back to 2010 before their loss to the visiting Huskies.
The last time the Bruins lost a conference game, they were playing in the Pac-10 conference, which has since expanded to the Pac-12.
Redshirt sophomore goalkeeper Earl Edwards said he had not heard about the streak until reading an article the next day.
“It’s rough, that sucks that we didn’t break that record, but it’s not what we’re focused on for the year. We take it game by game and have bigger goals, that’s unfortunate but it’s all right,” Edwards said.
Though UCLA’s loss snapped the conference win streak, the Bruins have yet another streak they are currently riding, one that coach Jorge Salcedo thinks the group should take more pride in.
The team has yet to lose a road game in 14 straight games dating back to last year.
“We’re proud of that record and that’s something I think we’ve realized a little bit more than the actual Pac-12 streak that we had going, because it is so difficult to go on the road and not lose,” Salcedo said.
The Bruins’ style of play remains a source of pride, and the team is proud that it can bring its style of play on the road when most teams choose not to do so.
“A lot of teams go on the road and they want to bunker-in and try to get a result, but we’ll play the same way,” Salcedo said.
“We’ll try to be dominant and have the ball and keep possession of the ball the same way (we do at home).”
Max-imizing opportunities
On Monday night, UCLA (8-2-2, 3-1-0 Pac-12) controlled possession but failed to capital ize on a glut of scoring opportunities in both the first and second half.
“Sometimes we have the best games we’ve had, but we just don’t get behind the net and this weekend was an (example),” junior forward Max Estrada said.
Estrada assisted on the team’s second-half goal and has continued to play a key role as a substitute this season, including scoring three game-winning goals.
“I’m not one of the starters yet, I got to start one game but unfortunately I’m back on the bench,” Estrada said.
“But I don’t put my head down. Every time I step on the pitch, I just try to add something to the team and not leave (the game) the same way that it was before I went in.”
Getting back healthy
Junior forward Victor Chavez missed time early in the year with an injury but has since come on strong for the Bruins.
Chavez has scored a goal in two of the team’s past three games, including the game-winning goal last Friday night against Oregon State, a 1-0 victory.
“It’s a good feeling to be able to contribute again. I was hurt for a while and it kind of sucked being on the sidelines and not being able to play. Just being able to be on the field again, it’s really nice,” he said.