University of California, Los Angeles, Athletics
UCLA
Cal Poly
UCLA Wraps Up Non-Conference Play at Cal Poly
September 21, 2016 | Men's Soccer
#6 UCLA at Cal Poly
@San Luis Obispo, Calif. (Alex G. Spanos Stadium)
Friday, Sept. 23 - 8:00 pm PT
Live Stream - Big West TV
Live Stats - gopoly.com
Bruins Wrap Up Non-Conference Play Friday
Sixth-ranked UCLA (4-1-1) will conclude non-conference play on Friday night at Cal Poly (1-4-1). Kickoff is at 8pm at Alex G. Spanos Stadium in San Luis Obispo, Calif., where Cal Poly currently holds an 11-match unbeaten streak.
Last Time Out
UCLA scored the tying goal with three seconds on the clock and then won in the seventh minute of overtime to complete an improbable 2-1 comeback at 13th-ranked UC Santa Barbara last Saturday. Brian Iloski got the Bruins to overtime when he drew a foul just about one yard outside the box with five seconds left in regulation. The referee stopped the clock, and Iloski scored the equalizer on the direct free kick. The Bruins won it in overtime on a give-and-go with Jackson Yueill and Abu Danladi. Yueill shot past the UCSB goalkeeper and hit the right post, but the ball bounced in for the golden goal in the 97th minute.
Offensive Explosion
UCLA scored just two goals in its first three games, but since being shut out by Duke on Sept. 2, the Bruins have gone on a goal-scoring tear, totaling 12 goals in their last three games. UCLA's offensive explosion has coincided with Abu Danladi's return from injury. In his first game back against Akron, Danladi scored two goals 11 seconds apart then added a goal in 34 minutes of play against CSUN and an assist on the game-winner at UCSB. Blayne Martinez and Brian Iloski have scored two goals in the last three games, and Jackson Yueill has a goal and four assists in the last three. Also scoring goals in the Bruins' last three games have been Seyi Adekoya, Jose Hernandez. Willie Raygoza and Matthew Powell.
UCLA vs. Top 15
With the wins over No. 1 Akron and No. 13 UCSB and the tie against No. 4 Maryland, the Bruins are 2-0-1 on the year against Top 15 teams and 15-5-6 since 2013.
Danladi's Dandy Debut
Junior forward Abu Danladi did not play in the team's first three games of the season due to a hamstring injury, but he made an epic season debut on Sept. 5 against Akron. Just eight minutes into his first game, he scored his first goal of the year, and then 11 seconds after that, he scored his second. Only two other players in NCAA history have scored two consecutive goals in a shorter time span. Danladi came out of the game after scoring his second goal, which gave him a scoring rate of 0.22 goals per minute. He is now scoring at a one goal per game pace, which ranks second in the Pac-12.
Yueill Ties School Record for Assists
Sophomore midfielder Jackson Yueill tied the school record for assists in a game with four in the Bruins' 6-1 win over Akron on Sept. 5. Yueill, who was named to Top Drawer Soccer's Team of the Week after that feat, had all four of his assists in the second half, including assists on the three goals that UCLA scored in a NCAA-record 32-second span. Yueill ranks second in the nation in assists per game with an average of 0.83 and is third in total assists with five. In just over one season, Yueill has already totaled 11 career assists.
National Leaders
In addition to Jackson Yueill ranking in the Top 5 in the nation in assists and assists per game, two other Bruins are in the Top 15 in various statistical categories. Midfielder Brian Iloski ranks 20th in the nation and first in the Pac-12 with two game-winning goals. Goalkeeper Juan Cervantes ranks 19th nationally and second in the Pac-12 in save percentage (0.852). He is also first in the Pac-12 in saves per game with an average of 3.83 and in total saves with 23. As a team, UCLA ranks 13th in save percentage (0.857) and scoring offense (2.33), 14th in points per game (6.83), 16th in assists per game (2.17), and 18th in team goals against average (0.63).
Scouting the Mustangs
Cal Poly started the season with four straight losses but are 1-0-1 in their last two, with a 4-1 win over Fresno Pacific and a 1-1 tie against No. 11 San Diego State. The Mustangs are led in scoring this season by Justin Dhillon, who has four goals and nine points. Two members of Cal Poly's coaching staff previously coached at UCLA - head coach Steve Sampson was a former assistant at UCLA from 1982-85, and goalkeeper coach Ignacio Hernandez coached the Bruin keepers from 2010-11.
The Series with Cal Poly
UCLA is 12-2-4 all-time against Cal Poly and won both matchups in Los Angeles last season, 4-1 in the regular season and 2-0 in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. In last year's 4-1 win, Seyi Adekoya scored two goals, Jackson Yueill had a goal and two assists, and Michael Amick scored his first career goal. In game two last season, the Bruins won on a goal by Jordan Vale and an own goal. This is UCLA's first visit to Cal Poly since 2012. The Bruins won that matchup, 1-0.
In the Rankings
The Bruins continue to steadily climb in the rankings, moving up one spot to sixth in the NSCAA rankings. UCLA moved up five spots to No. 3 in the Soccer America poll and vaulted from 22nd to eighth in the Top Drawer Soccer poll.
Record-Setters
In just one half of action against top-ranked Akron on Sept. 5, UCLA set or tied several records. The Bruins set an NCAA record by scoring three goals in 32 seconds (Abu Danladi, 52:28 and 52:39; Blayne Martinez, 53:00). The previous record was 43 seconds, set by Syracuse in 1989. Danladi's two goals 11 seconds apart gave him the distinction of having the third-fastest consecutive goals in NCAA history. Only Robby Christner of Oregon State (:08 in 2008) and Jon Hall of American (:09 in 1987) scored two goals faster. UCLA now has three players in the Top 11 in this category. Julio Umana scored two goals in 15 seconds in 1994 vs. CSUN, and Eddie Lewis scored two in 20 seconds in 1994 vs. Davidson. Additionally, Jackson Yueill tied the UCLA record held by Michael Stephens (2008) and Zak Ibsen (1991) for most assists in a game with four.
Fresh Faces
Three players got their first starts as Bruins in the season opener - junior forward Jason Romero, freshman defender Reggie Cannon, and redshirt freshman Matthew Powell. Romero made his presence known right away, scoring just 65 seconds into his first game as a Bruin. Additionally, freshman forward Blayne Martinez made his first collegiate appearance in the season opener and went on to make his first start against Akron in Game 4, where he scored his first career goal. Redshirt sophomore defender Joab Santoyo earned his first start against Cal State Fullerton.
Alumni Weekend
UCLA Soccer will host an Alumni Weekend for both men's and women's soccer alumni on Oct. 20-23. The weekend activities include a ticket to the UCLA Football Homecoming game on Oct. 22, halftime recognition at the Oct. 23 games, a men's alumni game, a postgame clinic after the women's game, and a barbeque. Alumni seeking more information can contact assistant coach Phil Marfuggi.
Looking Ahead
The Bruins will begin Pac-12 Conference play on Thursday, Sept. 29 against Washington at 7pm.
