UCLA
1-0-0
San Diego State
0-1-0
Bruins Down Aztecs, 5-1, in Season Opener
August 18, 2017 | Women's Soccer
No. 9 UCLA opened the 2017 season with a resounding 5-1 victory over San Diego State on Friday night at Drake Stadium. Junior forward Julia Hernandez scored two second-half goals, and Hailie Mace and Jessie Fleming each had a goal and an assist.
"It was a quality first game of the season," said UCLA head coach Amanda Cromwell. "Anytime you come out and score five goals against an in-state team that always comes out with a good squad, it's a good result. I'm excited about the players who came onto the field as subs. They did a really good job of keeping our level or raising our level."
Mace scored the only goal of the first half in the 37th minute on a volley after Delanie Sheehan sent a perfect cross into the box. Mace wasn't done creating goals, as she sent in a cross into the box for Fleming in the 51st minute. Fleming's ninja-kick volley went off the crossbar and in for what turned out to be the game-winning goal.
The floodgates opened after that, as Hernandez scored a pair of goals, the first in the 63rd minute on a header after passes from Fleming and Zoey Goralski, and the second in the 72nd minute, following through on her penalty kick that was saved but not controlled by Aztec goalkeeper Gabby English.
San Diego State got on the scoreboard three minutes later on a penalty kick of their own, scored by Aliyah Utush, but Bruin senior Claire Winter brought the lead back to four in the 86th minute, pouncing on a loose ball in the box after a corner kick.
UCLA outshot San Diego State, 18-5, and had 11 shots on goal. The Bruins held an 8-1 advantage in corner kicks. English had five saves, while winning goalkeeper Teagan Micah had two.
The Bruins will next play at Long Beach State on Sunday, Aug. 20 at 7pm.
Team Stats
Mace, Hailie (1)
Assisted By: Matulich, Gabrielle , Sheehan, Delanie
volley shot in box
36:35
Fleming, Jessie (1)
Assisted By: Athens, Olivia , Mace, Hailie
volley in box off crossbar and in
50:09
Hernandez, Julia (1)
Assisted By: Goralski, Zoey , Fleming, Jessie
header in front of goal
62:06
Hernandez, Julia (2)
rebounds own saved pk and scores
71:46
UTUSH, Aliyah (1)
SDSU UTUSH, Aliyah PENALTY KICK GOAL, goal number 1 for season.
74:49
Winter, Claire (1)
shot in box after rebound
85:57
