UCLA
San Diego
UCLA Advances to the Third Round with 2-1 Overtime Victory
November 24, 2014 | Men's Soccer
The second-seeded UCLA Bruins advanced to the third round of the NCAA Tournament in thrilling fashion behind an overtime goal from Leo Stolz to defeat San Diego, 2-1, on Sunday night at Drake Stadium. UCLA advances to face conference rival, California, in a home match on Sunday, November 30.
“It was a very good game by both San Diego and our team,” said UCLA Head Coach Jorge Salcedo. “There were a lot of highs and lows, but ultimately we found a way to win the game. San Diego played well, and credit them for coming in and having a good performance, but I'm really proud of our ability to find a way to win.”
Stolz, a first team All-Pac-12 selection, netted the finishing tally in the seventh minute of the first overtime session. The play got started when freshman striker Abu Danladi received the ball at the top right corner of the 18-yard box where he quickly turned and ran past the Torero defender towards the end-line. Danladi attacked the net and quickly slid a ball back towards the middle of the box where a charging Stolz was waiting to finish with his left foot. For Stolz, the 'golden goal' was his second of the game and ninth of the season.
“The game winning goal was a great individual play by Abu [Danladi] and a really good finish from Leo [Stolz],” remarked Coach Salcedo.
San Diego (11-6-4), who had beaten UCLA earlier in the season, was the aggressor at the outset. Torero defender Parker Price got San Diego on the board first with a goal in the 20th minute. Price scored from in close with a bending shot that ricocheted off of the left post and in for his third of the season.
UCLA (12-4-4) would later find an equalizer, but they had to wait until the 55th minute to get it. After San Diego fouled a UCLA player 30 yards away from the goal, Stolz stepped to the ball to take the free-kick for the Bruins. The German native sent a hard low shot past the wall and past the diving Torero goalkeeper into the bottom right corner of the net to bring the Bruins level at one.
After concluding regulation in a 1-1 tie, the Bruins headed to overtime for the seventh time this year. Just 40 seconds into the extra session, UCLA goalkeeper Earl Edwards Jr. was forced to make the play of the season, keeping the Bruins title hopes alive. San Diego sent a high cross into the penalty area where senior striker Dave Musambi got in behind the Bruin backline and sent an accurate header on net. A diving effort from Edwards Jr. kept the ball out of the net, but the rebound came straight back to Musambi who took another shot, but was again denied of the game-winner by a sprawling Edwards Jr. The two saves kept the Toreros from snatching the victory and allowed UCLA to recover and score the game-winner six minutes later.
UCLA advances to the third round of postseason play for the fifth time in the past six seasons. Furthermore, the Bruins improved their overall postseason record to 69-38, including a 4-4 split in eight tournament matches against San Diego.
The Bruins will continue their title chase on Sunday, November 30 when they host the California Golden Bears at 5:00pm PT. Tickets for Sunday's third round match are $10 for adults and $8 for youth/students (w/valid ID).
