UCLA
12-0-2, 5-0-1
Utah
5-7-2, 0-5-1
UCLA Women's Soccer Downs Utah, 2-1
October 12, 2017 | Women's Soccer
Midfielder Jessie Fleming broke a 1-1 tie in the 81st minute with a long distance chip over the goalkeeper as No. 2 UCLA defeated Utah, 2-1, at Drake Stadium. With the victory, UCLA remains unbeaten at 12-0-2, 5-0-1 in Pac-12 Conference play.
The first half of the game was a defensive battle, as the Bruins totaled five shots, while Utah (5-7-2, 0-5-1) had just two, none of which were on goal. In the second half, it was UCLA who struck first, with Delanie Sheehan and Fleming connecting to create the game's first goal at 53:47. Kaiya McCullough got the play started after intercepting a punt from Utah goalkeeper Carly Nelson and pushing the ball forward to Fleming. The Canadian National Team star linked up twice with Sheehan before Sheehan turned and fired a left-footed shot past Nelson into the upper left corner.
UCLA's lead was short-lived, however, as the Utes answered less than four minutes later on a set piece. Aleea Gwerder's corner kick found Haylee Cacciacarne in the box, and Cacciacarne volleyed the ball into the back of the net.
Fleming, however, put Utah's upset hopes to bed, scoring her third goal of the season at 80:21.
"It was a good win; a good conference win," said UCLA head coach Amanda Cromwell. "Utah is a really good team that defends really well, which makes it hard to get quality shots off. I think we created enough to score two or three. I wasn't really happy with the goal against on a corner kick, but they're really good at set plays."
UCLA outshot Utah in the game, 13-5, but the Utes had the advantage in corner kicks, 4-2. Nelson finished the game with four saves, while Bruin goalkeeper Teagan Micah had one. The Bruins were flagged for five offside calls, one which negated a goal in the 69th minute.
"In this league, you've just got to minimize the other teams' chances," Cromwell said. "In the end, I think we grinded it out pretty well. We had the majority of the possession, and I liked how we were kicking it around."
The Bruins will next play on Thursday, Oct. 19 at Washington State, a 7pm match that will be televised live on Pac-12 Networks.
Jessie Fleming comes in clutch for @UCLAWSoccer!
โ Pac-12 Network (@Pac12Network) October 13, 2017
Watch #Pac12Soccer: https://t.co/YfMNDWtSGW pic.twitter.com/QXsVMqm1K9
Team Stats
Sheehan, Delanie (4)
Assisted By: Fleming, Jessie
top of box to top left corner
53:47
Haylee Cacciacarne (2)
Assisted By: Aleea Gwerder
shot after corner kick service into box
57:28
Fleming, Jessie (3)
chip from top corner of box to top corne
80:21
