UCLA
3-2-0
North Carolina
5-0-1
No. 9 UCLA Falls to No. 8 UNC, 2-1
September 09, 2016 | Women's Soccer
Los Angeles, Calif. โ No. 9 UCLA rallied to tie No. 8 North Carolina on a 55th minute goal by Jessie Fleming, but the Tar Heels answered back with the game-winner in the 69th minute to defeat the Bruins, 2-1.
The game was UCLA's fourth consecutive against a Top 15 team, and the Bruins (3-2-0) found mixed results, going 2-2 in those games, losing by one goal to No. 6 Florida and to the eighth-ranked Tar Heels, who improved to 5-0-1 on the season.
"It wasn't a great game for us as far as execution of our gameplan," said UCLA head coach Amanda Cromwell. "It got better in the second half with what we wanted to do possession-wise. Our backline played really well at denying shots in the run of play. I think we created enough to get another look for a goal, but in the end we weren't sophisticated enough. We settled for shots from distance when we could have gotten closer."
UNC got on the board first in the 27th minute on a penalty kick after MacKenzie Cerda and Annie Kingman got tangled up in the box. Kingman put the penalty kick just barely past Bruin goalkeeper Teagan Micah for the 1-0 lead.
UCLA equalized in the 55th minute thanks to Fleming. The Bruin freshman started the play by sending a long ball over the top to Anika Rodriguez, who sent a great pass through to Annie Alvarado. With a defender closing in on her, Alvarado sent a cross into the box that Fleming chased down. Fleming controlled the pass and then fired past Tar Heel goalkeeper Lindsey Harris for her fourth goal in three games.
The Tar Heels, however, came back in the 69th minute when a corner kick was cleared out of the box. It bounced right to Megan Buckingham at the top of the circle, and she one-timed it on the volley past Micah for the game-winner.UCLA and UNC matched up on the statistical end, tallying eight shots and five corner kicks apiece. Harris totaled four saves in goal for the Tar Heels, while Micah had two.
The Bruins wore specially-made shirts in support of UCLA alumna and former U.S. Women's National team legend Lauren Holiday, who was recently diagnosed with an operable brain tumor during her pregnancy.
"We wore the #LaurenStrong shirts tonight to honor Lauren and recognize her fight right now," Cromwell said. "We just wanted to let her know that she's part of our family and she's on our mind. In the end, the game is so much more than wins and losses. Being able to honor her tonight was really cool for the girls."We are playing for one of our all-time greats tonight. We love you @laurenholiday12! #LaurenStrong pic.twitter.com/GPe7jamI2W
โ UCLA Women's Soccer (@UCLAWSoccer) September 10, 2016
The Bruins will next host San Diego on Sunday, Sept. 11 at 5pm at Drake Stadium.
Team Stats
Annie Kingman (2)
NC Annie Kingman PENALTY KICK GOAL, goal number 2 for season.
26:43
Fleming, Jessie
Assisted By: Alvarado, Annie , Rodriguez, Anika
shot from close range
54:13
Megan Buckingham (1)
long range shot after corner kick cleara
68:50
