Bruins Head South for San Diego State Skirmish

Saturday, October 13

San Diego, CA

7:00 PM

UCLA

San Diego State

UCLA has nine points through its first conference games (photo: Greg Menjivar)

Photo by: Greg Menjivar

Bruins Head South for San Diego State Skirmish

October 10, 2018 | Men's Soccer

PDF Game Notes

GAME INFORMATION
No. 21 UCLA (7-4-0, 3-1-0) vs. San Diego State (5-5-1, 1-3-0)
Date/Time: Saturday, Oct. 13, 2018 – 7:00 p.m. PT
Location: San Diego, Calif. (SDSU Sports Deck)
Live Stats: SDSUAztecs.com
Twitter Updates: @UCLAMSoccer

BRUINS HEAD SOUTH FOR SAN DIEGO STATE SKIRMISH
After back-to-back weeks of playing two games, UCLA has just one contest on tap this week, traveling south for a Saturday night game at San Diego State. Kickoff is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. There will be no live stream of the tilt, but fans can follow live stats at UCLABruins.com and Twitter updates at @UCLAMSoccer.

WEEK IN REVIEW
UCLA hosted Washington and No. 28 Oregon State last week in the team's first home Pac-12 games, shutting out each opponent 1-0. Though the Bruins were out-shot 12-9 by the Huskies, UCLA's quality of chances were clearly a notch above, evidenced by the 6-4 edge in shots on goal for the home side. Milan Iloski turned in the game-winner for the Bruins, hitting a 23rd minute free kick from 20 yards out to the right of the wall and inside the left post for his second goal of the year. Justin Garces had four saves in the shutout. UCLA dominated the possession game against Oregon State, holding the opposition without a shot on goal. Despite a bevy of chances, the Bruins didn't break through until Kike Poleo's 79th minute shot from the top of the box went off the left post and in, his first of the year and second of his career.

POWELL NAMED THE UCLA MUSCLE MILK STUDENT-ATHLETE OF THE WEEK
UCLA redshirt junior center back Matt Powell was named the UCLA Muscle Milk Student-Athlete of the Week on Tuesday after keying the Bruins to consecutive shutouts against Washington and OSU. The 6-1 defender played all 90 minutes in both contests and was a central figure in a defensive effort that not only kept both opponents off the scoreboard, but prevented them from creating many scoring chances. It was Powell's first career UCLA Student-Athlete of the Week and the second this season for UCLA men's soccer (Matt Hundley, Aug. 28).

VASQUEZ TABBED TO TOP DRAWER SOCCER'S TEAM OF THE WEEK
Likewise, UCLA freshman defender AJ Vasquez was picked to the national Top Drawer Soccer Team of the Week on Tuesday for his part in the back-to-back shutouts. An outside back, Vasquez played a critical part of the Bruins' back three, tracking back and preventing the Beavers and Huskies from finding the back of the net.

STARTING STRONG
The Bruins have routinely been the better team in the opening 45 minutes this season, holding the opposition scoreless in the first half in 10 of 11 games this season. UCLA meanwhile has scored seven first half goals, outscoring its opponents 7-3 on aggregate in the first 45. The Bruins have scored first in eight of their 11 games, going 6-2 in those contests.

IN THE RANKINGS
After one week outside the top-25, UCLA re-entered the United Soccer Coaches Poll on Tuesday at No. 21. The Bruins are also ranked No. 3 in the United Soccer Coaches Far West Region poll. UCLA is also receiving votes in the College Soccer News rankings. San Diego State is unranked in all polls.

RPI REPORT
In the third week of public RPI rankings, UCLA jumped to No. 21, second-best among Pac-12 schools. RPI is the key metric used to determine at-large selections into the NCAA Tournament. The NCAA field is comprised of 24 automatic bids (conference champions) and 24 at-large choices. In 2017, NC State was the lowest-ranked RPI school to receive an at-large bid at No. 45.

WINNING THE SHOTS BATTLE
Thanks in part to a strong possession game, UCLA has consistently won the shots battle against its opponents this year. The Bruins outshot their opponent in the first seven games of the year, and for the season have a 142-87 edge in total shots, which translates to an advantage of five shots per game (12.9 to 7.9). The Bruins have been even better at putting their shots on frame, as their 5.91 SOG per game rate leads the Pac-12 and ranks 42nd nationally. UCLA opponents are mustering just 3.09 shots on goal per game, including four contests with one SOG or fewer.

WALLIS ANNENBERG STADIUM OPENS FOR 2018 SEASON
After playing home games at Drake Stadium from 2000-17, the UCLA soccer teams have moved into a new home, Wallis Annenberg Stadium. The stadium, which seats 2,145, is located at the previously-named North Athletic Field, where UCLA played selected home games from 1967-99. The stadium was made possible thanks to a $5 million lead gift from the Annenberg Foundation. The just-completed first phase of the stadium project includes grandstands and a press box on the west side, a Daktronics LED video board and Musco Sports lighting. Future phases of the stadium project may include expanded seating, a training room, student-athlete locker room, coaches' locker rooms, meeting spaces, ticketing space, and a new press box.

VARIETY IS THE SPICE OF LIFE
UCLA has an increased amount of depth on the roster this year, evidenced by the nine different players to score a goal so far this year, with the team's seven game-winners spread among five players. No other Pac team has more goalscorers than UCLA's nine.

NO GOALS FOR YOU
Last week represented a return to an early-season trend for UCLA: keeping clean sheets. With the pair of blankings, the Bruins now have five for the season. That figure ranks second in the league and 25th nationally. With its next shutout, UCLA would have its most single-season clean sheet since 2014 (eight).

SCOUTING THE AZTECS
San Diego State is 5-5-1 overall this season and 1-3 in league play, bringing up the rear of the Pac-12 in both categories. The Aztec's lone conference win so far came against Oregon State, with losses coming at the hands of Stanford, California, and Washington. SDSU is fourth in the league in scoring (1.45 goals per game) and third in defense (1.115 team GAA), ranking No. 81 in the RPI. Pablo Pelaez (five goals, 13 points) and Damian German (three goals, seven points) account for over half the team's offensive production. SDSU was picked to finish fifth in the Pac-12 in the Preseason Coaches Poll.

HUNDLEY UNFAZED IN FRESHMAN SEASON
In his debut season, Matt Hundley leads the team and is first in the Pac-12 among freshman with 11 points so far this year. He is 12th nationally in scoring among freshmen, and only three freshmen have more assists than his five. Hundley has a point in four of his last seven games. With five points, Hundley led UCLA to a 4-0 win at Coastal Carolina on opening day. That two goal, one assist effort made him just the third Bruin in the last five years to record five points in a game, the first to do so on Opening Day since current assistant coach Matt Taylor had a trick in 2003, and the only Bruin frosh this millenium with five points on Opening Day.

MISSED YOU, MILAN
Sophomore forward Milan Iloski has had quite the impact for UCLA since making his return to the lineup, scoring a pair of goals - both game-winners - in five games since re-joining the lineup. His 0.40 GWG per game leads the Pac-12. Despite playing in just five games, he is one goal away from matching his freshman season total of three. UCLA is 6-1 all-time when he records a point (4-1 last season, 2-0 this year). He missed the first six games of the season after undergoing an appendectomy.

GARCES HOLDS IT DOWN BETWEEN THE PIPES
Freshman keeper Justin Garces has been in net the last four games for UCLA after he and senior Cole Martinez more-or-less split games over the season's first month. Garces currently ranks second in the Pac-12, tied with Martinez, with a 1.00 GAA. His .696 save percentage and three shutouts are third in the league.

AMAYA GETTING IN A GROOVE
Hampered by a preseason injury early in the year, freshman midfielder Frankie Amaya has started to flash his potential as the 2018 season enters its second month. The Santa Ana native received a call-up the U.S. U-20 Men's National Team last month, joining the squad for the U-20 MNT Invitational tournament at the IMG Academy in Bradenton from Sept. 7-11. He has started the last six games since re-joining the Bruins, including a standout effort at UC Santa Barbara that saw him score his first collegiate goal and play a full 90 minutes for the first time this season.

BRUINS BRING IN NATION'S TOP RECRUITING CLASS
Featuring four of the top-20 ranked academy players in the country, UCLA's 2018 recruiting class was deemed the best in the country by Top Drawer Soccer. This is the seventh time under Salcedo that UCLA has brought in the top class in the nation. Standouts include 2017 NJCAA National Player of the Year Mohammed Kamara (Tyler JC) and freshmen Frankie Amaya (No. 6 national prospect / Pateadores Academy), Justin Garces (No. 16 prospect / Atlanta United Academy), Matt Hundley (No. 18 prospect / Colorado Rapids Academy), and AJ Vasquez (No. 19 prospect / FC Golden State Academy), all of whom have national team experience. Other heralded newcomers include freshman midfielder Cody Sundquist, Santa Monica City College transfer Carlos Rincon, freshman defender Paul Caspar, and Division I transfers Alexis Triadis (Hartford) and Aristides Costeas (St. John's).

HOLT RECEIVES PLENTY OF PRESEASON RECOGNITION
One of UCLA's top returners, senior defender Erik Holt received plenty of preseason publicity ahead of his last season in Westwood. Chiefly, he was named to the MAC Hermann Award Watch List. The MAC Hermann Trophy is awarded annually to the most outstanding male and female players of the year. Past Bruin winners include Leo Stolz (2014), Sasha Victorine (1999), and Brad Friedel (1992). In addition, Holt was selected to the College Soccer News Preseason All-America Third Team. This season, he is second on the team and fifth in the Pac-12 with three assists. He entered the year with two career assists.

FROSH PAIR MAKE TOP DRAWER PRESEASON BEST XI
Garces and Hundley both were named to the Top Drawer Soccer Preseason Freshman Best XI. With two selections, UCLA was the lone program in the country to have two players on the Best XI. Washington (Ethan Bartlow) was the only other Pac-12 school represented.Two key members of the top recruiting class in the country, Garces and Hundley have significant experience with the U.S. National Team. Both were members of the U-17 Residency Program, and both ended their academy careers inside the top-20 of the IMG Academy Top-150, with Garces coming in at No. 16 and Hundley at No. 18.

PAIR OF BRUINS MAKE PRESEASON ALL-PAC-12 TEAM, UCLA PICKED TO FINISH THIRD
Erik Holt and Anderson Asiedu were both named to the Preseason All-Pac-12 Team. Normally an 11-man team, the 2018 iteration featured 12 players as the there was a tie for the 11th and final spot. Asiedu was a Second Team All-Pac-12 choice last year after recording two goals and two assists for four points. In the annual preseason coaches poll, UCLA was picked to finish third in the Pac-12. The Bruins were one of two teams to receive first place votes. Stanford, which took five first place votes and received 25 overall points, was selected to finish on top. Washington received one more point (19) than UCLA in the poll.

HOLT, ASIEDU MAKE TOP DRAWER'S TOP-100
UCLA's two Preseason All-Pac-12 picks were both also tabbed to Top Drawer Soccer's Preseason Top 100 player rankings. Holt, a Preseason All-American and MAC Hermann Watch List member, came in at No. 53. Asiedu cracked the list at No. 88.

KAMARA FILLS THE NET
Kamara has been a standout offensive performer in his debut Division I season, scoring four goals in the team's first four games. He has been slowed by injury since, making just two starts and three appearance since Sept. 12. His debut Division I goal at Coastal Carolina, a moonshot chip over the keeper, was the No. 2 play on that night's Sportscenter Top-10. Kamara led Tyler Junior College to back-to-back national titles, scoring 70 goals in 48 games, including a sophomore campaign that saw him score in every game (he had 48 overall in 22 contests) while winning NJCAA National Player of the Year honors.

FORMER BRUIN DEFENDER CANNON RECALLED TO USMNT
FC Dallas right back Reggie Cannon, who spent the 2016 season at UCLA, received a call-up this week to the US Men's National Team for the upcoming Kickoff Series against Peru and Colombia. This is Cannon's first appearance with the senior national team after previously playing on the U-17 and U-19 squads. The Grapevine, Tex. Native was a standout for UCLA as a freshman in 2016, starting in all 20 matches and making the College Soccer News All-Freshman Third Team. He leads FC Dallas in both starts (30) and minutes (2,651) this season.