UCLA
San Diego
No. 4 UCLA Men's Soccer Team Downs No. 11 San Diego, 3-1
September 15, 2002 | Men's Soccer
Sept. 15, 2002
Los Angeles, CA - Los Angeles, Calif. - The fourth-ranked UCLA men's soccer team handed 11th-ranked San Diego its first defeat of the season in a 3-1 victory at Frank W. Marshall Field Sunday afternoon. Just 19 seconds after re-entering the game, senior forward Tim Pierce (Dana Point, CA/Santa Margarita HS) scored the game-winning goal on a 20-yard chip shot over San Diego keeper Matt Kessler's head.
The Bruins struck first in the contest, as junior midfielder Adolfo Gregorio (Hilmar, CA/Hilmar HS) scored off a Pierce cross in the 23rd minute. San Diego came back to tie in the second half on Eric Wunderle's fourth goal of the season. Wunderle headed in a Matt McCausland cross at the 54:25 mark to equalize. However, Pierce scored his game-winner just five minutes later off a Matt Taylor (Irvine, CA/Irvine HS) pass. Taylor put the game out of reach at the 62:03 mark, taking a Jimmy Frazelle (Folsom, CA/Bella Vista HS) pass and beating Kessler one-on-one.
San Diego had a chance to get back into the game in the 79th minute when Ryan Coiner got off a hard shot in the box. However, Bruin defender Tony Lawson (Palmdale, CA/Quartz Hill HS) cleared the ball off the line and out of play.
Bruin goalkeeper Zach Wells (Costa Mesa, CA/Newport Harbor HS) made four saves in the victory. Kessler, who played 66 minutes before being relieved by Parker Jarvis, made one save.
"It was a hard-fought battle," said UCLA head coach Tom Fitzgerald. "San Diego always comes with a lot of emotion, and it turned out to be an aggressive, emotional game. We scored three very good goals, and I'm very happy with the win. We still have a few things to work on, but it's still early in the season."
UCLA's record improves to 4-0-0, while San Diego falls to 5-1-0. The Bruins will next travel to Westchester to face Loyola Marymount on Sunday, Sept. 22 at 4:00 pm on Sullivan Field.
