Just after the start of the second half of last Saturday’s game against San Diego State, the UCLA men’s soccer team suffered another setback. It wasn’t the Aztecs’ stingy defense, but blood gushing from the back of defender Chance Myers’ head.
“It was an untimely injury, getting hurt the last minute of the first half,” coach Jorge Salcedo said.
Compounding Myers’ injury were those to defenders Ryan White and Brandon Owens. Salcedo was forced to use sophomore Danny Suits at right fullback, a position that Suits had little experience playing.
“Not having White, not having Owens really hurt us (there),” Salcedo said. “It hurt our rhythm and possessions. It was unfortunate timing.”
After losing Myers, UCLA struggled. In the first half, with Myers in the lineup, the Bruins outshot the Aztecs 7-5 and had three corner kicks. After the half, the Aztecs had 12 shots to the Bruins’ one as UCLA’s road woes continued.
“Injuries are a part of the season,” Salcedo said. “Last year we had to deal with it quite a bit.”
It’s something the Bruins will have to continue to deal with. Owens will not be ready for Friday’s game against Stanford, despite his improvement. White re-aggravated his quad injury during Tuesday’s practice and will also not be available for the weekend. Myers, in fact, is the only one of his injured defenders Salcedo feels confident playing.
“(Myers) has about seven or eight staples in his head.” Salcedo said. “I think (he) will be fine by Friday, so it should pretty much be the same team (as last Saturday).”
Salcedo has no reason to change his lineup at home. The Bruins are undefeated at home this year and have scored eight goals in three games. It is their current struggles on the road that they should be concerned about.
A FAMILY IN FOOTBALL: It would appear that the Folk family has a few good legs. One is even employed professionally.
While UCLA’s Greg Folk plays defense for the Bruins and his younger brother Eric kicks for the Washington Huskies, oldest brother Nick kicks for the Dallas Cowboys. And he kicks well.
Nick nailed a 53-yard field goal ““ not once, but twice ““ Monday night to clinch the Cowboys’ 25-24 comeback against the Buffalo Bills. He had to make the kick a second time after the Bills called a last-second timeout in an attempt to ice the kicker.
“I watched a little of the game,” Greg Folk said about his brother’s success. “I’m pretty excited. I’m proud of him for making that clutch kick. I do expect him to make more in the future.”
Greg has been a staunch defender for the Bruins the past four years, starting every game last year and playing every minute of the 2007 season.