Soccer teams begin season with success

After a disappointing finish in 2007, the UCLA men’s soccer teams is off and running in 2008. Following a heartbreaking loss to Maryland, 2-1, at the Home Depot Center on Friday, UCLA men’s soccer regrouped with a dominant 3-0 performance Sunday against UC Riverside at Drake Stadium.

The Bruins (1-1) controlled the flow of play throughout and flustered the Highlanders defensively. Coach Jorge Salcedo praised his team’s impressive, bounce-back performance. “Our guys showed good character in an important game,” said Salcedo. “We did a very good job (defensively). I thought we were pretty solid in the back four.”

The UCLA women’s soccer team notched an important early season win Saturday, knocking off No. 6 Portland, 1-0, then going on to rout Portland State 7-0 yesterday.

With the win over Portland, the third-ranked Bruins (3-0, 0-0 Pac-10) snapped the Pilots’ 17-match home win streak in front of more than 4,000 fans at the Clive Charles Soccer Complex.

Aside from Cheney’s lone goal, the game was evenly matched as expected. Both teams amassed nine shots on goal, and quality scoring chances were hard to come by.

UCLA followed up the shutout with a 7-0 win over Portland State yesterday. Seven different Bruins scored a goal each in the game, including three players who came off the bench.

Compiled by Kendall Salter and Matt Stevens, Bruin Sports senior staff.

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