UCLA Takes to the Road to Face Seattle
November 21, 2015 | Men's Soccer
UCLA at #11 Seattle
NCAA Tournament Second Round
Championship Field (Seattle, Wash.)
Sunday, Nov. 22 - 6:00 pm PT
Live Stream - www.GoSeattleU.com
Stats - www.NCAA.com
Twitter - @UCLAMSoccer | #UCLAvsSU
UCLA Takes to the Road to Face Seattle
After defeating the Cal Poly Mustangs to advance to the second round of the NCAA Tournament, the UCLA Bruins will travel north to face the No. 11 Seattle Redhawks. The game will take place on Sunday, November 22 at Championship Field, with opening kick set for 6:00pm PT. The game can be seen via live stream at www.GoSeattleU.com.
In The Rankings
UCLA finished the season ranked No. 25 in the final NSCAA Coaches' poll, and No. 20 in the final NCAA RPI rankings. Seattle finished the regular season ranked No. 13 in the NSCAA Coaches' poll, and No. 9 in the NCAA RPI rankings. The Redhawks subsequently earned the No. 11 overall seed in the NCAA Tournament.
Scouting the Redhawks
The Seattle University Redhawks enter the tournament with an overall record of 17-3-1 and 9-1-0 in the Western Athletic Conference. The Redhawks are unbeaten in their last nine matches, going 8-0-1 over that span. In their last 17 matches, they've lost just once, going 15-1-1 in that timeframe. Seattle has three common opponents with the Bruins: Cal Poly, Oregon State and Washington. The Redhawks lost to Cal Poly, but defeated both Oregon State and Washington. Seattle is led by David Olsen who's racked up 31 points on 15 goals and one assist this season. The Redhawks have another pair of 20+ point scorers in Michael Roberts (22 points) and Hamza Haddadi (20 points). In net, Shane Haworth has appeared in 21 matches, making 54 saves and posting a 0.71 GAA.
UCLA has only faced Seattle University one previous time, earning a, 2-1, victory over the Redhawks in the 2011 regular season.
The Bruins Success in the 'Big Dance'
The Bruins have fared well in the NCAA Tournament, holding a 73-39 all-time record in their 112 postseason matches. UCLA has claimed four national championships over that span, including their most recent title capture in 2002. The Bruins have advanced to the College Cup 14 times and the College Cup Final nine times, including a trip to the final last season. This year's postseason berth marks the 33rd consecutive trip to the tournament for the Bruins, and their 43rd overall appearance, the most of any team in the field.
UCLA Takes Down Cal Poly in First Round
The UCLA Bruins hosted the Cal Poly Mustangs in the first round of the NCAA Tournament on Friday and earned a 2-0 shutout. Juan Cervantes made four saves and Jordan Vale netted the game-winning goal in the 59th minute. UCLA added another on an own goal.
Hernandez Earns Pac-12 Freshman of the Year
Freshman midfielder Jose Hernandez was named the Pac-12 Freshman of the Year. Hernandez becomes UCLA's sixth all-time recipient of the award and first since Kelyn Rowe in 2010. Hernandez leads the team and the Pac-12 with 26 points on 11 goals and four assists this season. Among all Division I Collegiate freshmen, Hernandez ranks T-4th in goals and T-5th in points. One of four Bruin players to appear in all 20 games (19 starts), Hernandez has logged 1,640 minutes, second only to defender Nathan Smith.
Hernandez Closing In On Freshman Records
Jose Hernandez is closing in on two UCLA freshman records. The most goals a freshman has ever scored in a single season for UCLA is 12, set by David Estrada in 2006. Hernandez has 11 goals so far, with postseason play still remaining. The UCLA freshmen record for points is 32, set by Joe-Max Moore in 1990. Hernandez currently sits six points back at 26.
Nine Bruins Named to All-Pac-12 Team
Nine UCLA Bruins men's soccer players were named to the All-Pac-12 team, including four to the first team. The full list of selections can be found below.
First Team All-Pac-12
Seyi Adekoya (Sophomore, Forward)
Abu Danladi (Sophomore, Forward)
Jose Hernandez (Freshman, Midfielder)
Jackson Yueill (Freshman, Midfielder)
Honorable Mention All-Pac-12
Michael Amick (Junior, Defender)
Chase Gasper (Sophomore, Defender)
Nathan Smith (Sophomore, Defender)
Javan Torre (Senior, Defender)
Jordan Vale (Senior, Midfielder)
The Fearsome Foursome
UCLA attackers Seyi Adekoya, Abu Danladi, Jose Hernandez and Jackson Yueill have combined to create one of the most dynamic group of offensive players in the country. Combined, the four have 36 of the team's 47 goals and have racked up a total of 93 points. Jose Hernandez (26), Seyi Adekoya (25) and Abu Danladi (22) ranked first, second and third in points in the Pac-12 conference respectively, with Jackson Yueill (20) close behind. The group makes UCLA the only team in the country to have four 20+ point scorers. One or more players from the group have scored a goal in 16 of the team's 20 games.
UCLA Offense Among Nation's Elite
The UCLA offense has been among the best in the entire nation in 2015. The Bruins enter the tournament with 47 goals through 20 matches, already besting their season total of 39 goals in 24 games last season. UCLA is currently one of only five schools (Butler, Dayton, Lehigh & Winthrop) to have two double-digit goal scorers and the only team in the country to have four 20+ point scorers. UCLA led the Pac-12 in total goals and goals per game (2.35) during the regular season. Among all Division I collegiate soccer teams, the Bruins rank 3rd in goals per game (2.35), T-2nd in total goals and 3rd in points per game (6.63).
Goals Coming In Bunches
UCLA has had several big-goal outputs this season, including a, 6-0, win over Cal on October 19. The Bruins have scored four goals or more in six matches this season, the most 4+ goal outputs since 2003, when the Bruins totaled the same number. Additionally, UCLA has produced seven 3+ goal outputs this season.
Youth Reigns Supreme
For UCLA this season, the youth has carried the scoring load throughout the regular season. Of the Bruins' 47 goals, 38 have been scored by freshmen or sophomores. Additionally, the freshmen and sophomores have racked up 102 of the team's 133 points, accounting for 77 percent of the team's scoring output. The complete scoring breakdown by class can be found below. (Note: One goal and two points are excluded from the below numbers because it was accounted for by a defensive own goal by an opponent.)
| Class | Goals | Assists | Points |
| Freshman | 20 | 12 | 52 |
| Sophomore | 18 | 14 | 50 |
| Junior | 2 | 8 | 12 |
| Senior | 6 | 5 | 17 |
2014 Tournament in Review
The Bruins entered last year's NCAA Tournament as the No. 2 overall seed and advanced all the way to the College Cup Final. UCLA defeated San Diego, Cal, North Carolina and Providence to reach the final, before falling in PKs to the Virginia Cavaliers.
2014 Tournament Results
2nd Round - (W) UCLA 2, San Diego 1 (OT)
3rd Round - (W) UCLA 3, California 2
Quarterfinals - (W) UCLA 3, North Carolina 3 (PKs)
Semifinals - (W) UCLA 3, Providence 2 (2OT)
Final - (L) Virginia 0, UCLA 0 (PKs)
