UCLA
Santa Clara
UCLA's Home Opener Ends in Scoreless Draw
September 13, 2014 | Men's Soccer
Los Angeles, Calif. - The No. 1 ranked UCLA Bruins opened their 2014 home schedule with a 0-0 double-overtime tie against Santa Clara on Friday night at Drake Stadium. With the result, both teams' records move to 3-1-1 on the season.
“It was probably one of our better performances of the year,” said UCLA coach Jorge Salcedo. “I told them [the team] I was proud of them. I was proud of their effort and I was proud of our approach. Sometimes you play a good game and you lose, sometimes you play a good game and you tie the game. Tonight, Santa Clara was organized and they obviously wanted to play on the counter-attack. I told the guys I was proud of their effort and we need to move forward to get ready for Sunday.”
On the night, the Bruins outshot the Broncos 17-7. However, UCLA couldn't find the finishing touch, only managing to put three of its attempts on target. The Bruin defense nevertheless looked sharp and kept the ball outside of their defensive third for the majority of the game.
UCLA controlled the play early on, generating numerous scoring opportunities in the first half. The best chance of the opening frame came in the 36th minute when Christian Chavez re-directed a cross from Felix Vobejda to the right foot of Brian Iloski, who shot just wide of the right post from inside the 18-yard box.
The second half proved to be a more evenly-matched affair before Leo Stolz had a chance to play hero for the Bruins in the 88th minute. The German native found space in the middle of the field, but was denied on a diving save by Santa Clara's Kendall McIntosh. After 90 minutes of play, the Bruins had outshot the Broncos, 11-6, but were unable to find the back of the net.
Playing their second overtime match of the season, the Bruins looked poised for a break-through in extra time. However, a heavy shot from Jordan Vale that sailed high in the waning moments of the first overtime and an Iloski bid that missed wide left at the end of the second overtime resulted in their first draw of the year.
The Bruins will look to get back in the win column on Sunday when they take on the Cal Poly Mustangs at 5:30pm PT at Drake Stadium. The match will be televised live on the Pac-12 Networks.
