Loyola Marymount was one of only three teams to beat the UCLA
men’s soccer team this past season. Though some people might
consider it an aberration (UCLA leads the all-time series 20-2),
the Bruins would hate for it to happen again.
Especially with the ambitious goals laid out by head coach Tom
Fitzgerald.
“Our objective is not to lose any more regular season
games, so our preparation is obviously (geared) toward that
goal,” Fitzgerald said.
But when LMU (5-2-1) visits UCLA (5-1-0) this Saturday at 7
p.m., the past year’s loss will not weigh heavy on the
Bruins’ minds.
“We don’t look at this as a revenge game,”
said Fitzgerald. “We look at it as a very important local
derby.”
UCLA did get the better of LMU in this past year’s
playoffs, as well as in the 2001 postseason.
“We haven’t been successful the last two years (in
the regular season), but I think we evened the score in the
playoffs,” Fitzgerald said.
Despite being unranked and playing in the relatively weak West
Coast Conference, the Lions are dangerous opponents. The team,
which upset No. 7 Creighton 2-1 on Sept. 7., is led by senior
midfielder Kevin Novak (seven goals) and junior defender Matt Kovar
(six assists).
Though these two players may be the stars, Fitzgerald will not
have his team focus its defensive efforts exclusively on Novak and
Kovar.
“I think the key is stopping everybody on their team and
playing good collective defense, as we try to do all the
time,” Fitzgerald said.
“We don’t concern ourselves with individual players
on other teams because it takes a team to beat you.”
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Of UCLA’s 17 goals this season, 15 have come in the second
half, including both goals in this past week’s 2-0 win over
Portland.