UCLA
San Francisco
No. 16 UCLA Hands No. 8 San Francisco First Loss Of Season, 2-0
September 17, 2006 | Men's Soccer
Sept. 17, 2006
Los Angeles, Calif. - UCLA won its second consecutive game over a Top 10 opponent, handing eighth-ranked San Francisco its first loss of the season, 2-0, at Drake Stadium. Maxwell Griffin scored for the fifth time in the last six games, and freshman David Estrada netted his first goal of his collegiate career.
The Bruins got on the boards first in the 17th minute. Freshman midfielder Michael Stephens sent in a pass to freshman defender Chance Myers on the right side, and Myers slotted a cross to Griffin in the box. Griffin, who celebrated his 19th birthday today, dribbled between two defenders and beat San Francisco goalkeeper Geremy Uhl for the game's first goal.
San Francisco had a good opportunity to equalize in the 36th minute when Aaron Chandler took a hard shot, but UCLA goalkeeper Eric Reed was there to make the stop. Reed made another spectacular save a minute into the second half, leaping high to knock a Brandon McDonald shot over the endline.
The Bruins put the game out of reach in the 87th minute when Estrada took a Sal Zizzo throw-in and hit a sharp shot into the back of the net for his first goal.
After winning its fourth consecutive game and second straight against a Top 10 team (UCLA also defeated No. 7 Santa Clara, 2-1, on Friday), UCLA improves to 4-2-1 on the year. San Francisco lost for the first time this year and drops to 5-1-1. The Bruins will open Pac-10 Conference play on Friday, Sept. 22 at California.
