UCLA
15-5-1, 7-3-1
Nebraska (Second Round)
11-6-5, 5-3-3
UCLA Drops Nebraska, 2-0, in NCAA Second Round
November 18, 2016 | Women's Soccer
Morgantown, W.Va. - UCLA advanced to the third round of the NCAA Tournament after a 2-0 second-round victory over Nebraska. The fourth-seeded Bruins scored in the fourth and 88th minutes en route to recording their third consecutive shutout.
Senior midfielder Annie Alvarado put UCLA on the board at 3:06 after a scrum in the box during which the Bruins were persistent and relentless in the attack. After Nebraska goalkeeper Aubrei Corder came out to challenge Sunny Dunphy in front of the goal, Dunphy kept the ball alive and managed to send it into towards Jessie Fleming, who, in the scrum, tapped it to Alvarado for the shot. Alvarado's shot got past a Husker defender into the right corner for her third goal of the season.
The Bruins (15-5-1) kept that narrow 1-0 lead intact in the first half, despite Nebraska pressing in the latter part of the half. Teagan Micah made two saves in the first half, and UCLA's defense held strong in the second half, allowing just four shots, none of which were on goal.
Senior forward Amber Munerlyn gave UCLA a much-needed insurance goal at 87:00. Fleming started the play with a pass to Zoey Goralski, who streaked down the field before sending a perfect pass to Munerlyn up the middle. Munerlyn one-timed it past Corder to net her sixth goal of the year.
"I think us scoring early was really huge, making them maybe come out a little bit more to defend higher up the field," said UCLA head coach Amanda Cromwell. "Our possession showed some really good quality throughout the match, and we were able to break them down in certain aspects. Still wish we could have been more dangerous at times and finish another one earlier, but then getting the one with three minutes to go lets us breathe a little easier on the sideline for sure."
The Bruins move on to the NCAA Round of 16 and will face No. 1 seed West Virginia on Sunday, Nov. 20 at 2:30pm ET/11:30am PT. The host Mountaineers defeated Ohio State in double overtime, 1-0.ย
Team Stats
Alvarado, Annie (3)
Assisted By: Fleming, Jessie
Scrum in front of box, goes far right
3:06
Munerlyn, Amber (6)
Assisted By: Goralski, Zoey , Fleming, Jessie
Finished on goal line to far right post
87:00
