In its season opener, the UCLA men’s soccer team lost a one-goal lead in the last minute before eventually falling in overtime. On Sunday, the Bruins displayed some late-game heroics of their own.
Looking to rebound from its tough 3-0 loss on Friday to No. 1 Wake Forest (3-0-0), No. 14 UCLA (1-2-1) battled to a 1-1 tie against No. 15 North Carolina (3-0-1) in a thrilling match on Sunday at Spry Stadium in Winston-Salem, N.C.
After UNC broke a scoreless tie with a goal in the 79th minute, the Bruins faced the possibility of losing consecutive games. Instead, senior forward Maxwell Griffin sent a header towards the right side of the box, and senior defender Brad Rusin netted the clutch, game-tying goal with just over four minutes left in regulation.
Although the Bruins were unable to score in overtime, the draw was important, especially after the 3-0 loss to the defending NCAA champion Demon Deacons on Friday night. In that game, the Bruins managed 12 shots in the rainy weather, but were unable to crack through a stingy Wake Forest defense. The Demon Deacons were effective on the offensive side as well, shooting the ball 17 times and setting the tone early with a goal in just the third minute of the game.
The Bruins return to Westwood to face No. 3 Indiana on Friday night at Drake Stadium.
Coming off a 7-0 blowout win against Portland State, the UCLA women’s soccer team netted a solid win (3-0) when it hosted UC Irvine (1-2) At Drake Stadium on Sunday. After a sluggish start, the second-ranked Bruins broke the scoreless tie when Olympic gold medalist junior Lauren Cheney fired a long-range shot from the left corner of the box in the 19th minute.
Forward Cheney demonstrated her offensive efficiency in the 25th minute when she rolled in a rebound shot on a Lauren Wilmoth assist after UCI’s goalkeeper lost control of the ball.
In the second half, UCLA continued its consistent play when Cheney assisted freshmen Summer Williams’s first goal of the season in the 71st minute, a cross from the left side, one-touch for goal.
UCLA will travel to Connecticut next week to face University of Connecticut and Brown.
Compiled by Blair Angulo, Bruin Sports senior staff, and Rebecca Lee, Bruin Sports staff.