UCLA
1-0-0
San Francisco
0-1-0
No. 21 UCLA Claims 5-3 Win over USF in Season Opener
August 26, 2017 | Men's Soccer
SAN FRANCISCO – Brian Iloski scored a pair of goals, while Eirik Baekkelund and Santiago Herrera scored their first career goals as the No. 21 UCLA men's soccer team earned a 5-3 victory in its season opener at San Francisco on Saturday night from Negoesco Stadium.
The five goals are the most by the Bruins in a season opener since scoring five goals against Penn State to begin the 2003 season.
"We are pleased with scoring five goals in our season opener on the road," said head coach Jorge Salcedo. "USF is a challenging opponent. Obviously we are disappointed by the goals we gave up because we lost a bit of composure. There are things we will do this week to learn from these moments and grow from them."
The Bruins improve to 3-1-2 over its last six season openers thanks to Iloski's first career brace. His first goal came in the 41st minute on a penalty kick, followed by finishing a low cross in front of the goal from Alex Knox to the left of the keeper to take a 4-0 lead in the 51st minute.
UCLA scored the first goal of the match in the 17th minute as Blayne Martinez chipped a volley from Erik Holt over the keeper's head. The Bruins pushed its lead to 2-0 in the 41st minute as Baekkelund collected a loose ball in the box and slotted a low shot into the back of the net, followed just 38 seconds later by Iloski's penalty kick.
USF cut the lead to 4-2 with a pair of quick goals by Leon Schwarzer in less than a minute, but UCLA would push the score back to a three-goal advantage in the 67th minute when a Knox shot was deflected to the foot of Herrera who drove a low shot to the near post.
"Our upcoming match against Maryland presents a great opportunity on the road in College Park," continued Salcedo. "We look forward to getting back and preparing for a very good team."
The 21st-ranked Bruins will continue a three-match road swing to begin the season next week as they head to the Mid-Atlantic to face No. 6 Maryland on Friday, Sept. 1 at 4 p.m. PT, followed by taking on Georgetown on Labor Day, Monday, Sept. 4 at 9 a.m. PT.
Team Stats
Martinez, Blayne (1)
Assisted By: Holt, Erik
Pass from #4 to #19 in front of the goal
16:01
Baekkelund, Eirik (1)
Ball tackled away, #2 picked up ball inf
40:17
Iloski, Brian (1)
UCLA Iloski, Brian PENALTY KICK GOAL, goal number 1 for season.
40:55
Iloski, Brian (2)
Assisted By: Knox, Alex
Assist from #3 crossed low to #10 slotte
50:17
SCHWARZER, Leon (1)
Assisted By: DIGIUSEPPE, Santiago
Header by #8 off corner kick from #10.
52:47
SCHWARZER, Leon (2)
Assisted By: BOWMAN, Sean
#9 heads ball off a cross to top of the
53:39
Herrera, Santiago (1)
#9 picks up loose ball for goal.
66:26
DIGIUSEPPE, Santiago (1)
Assisted By: EMIOLA, Tawwab
Header assist in the box by #7, bullet s
82:19
