Tuesday, August 28
Los Angeles, CA
7:00 PM
UCLA
vs
San Diego
Alex Knox was one of five Bruins to record a point in the team's opening game (photo by Don Liebig)
Photo by: Don Liebig/ASUCLA
Bruins Host USD in Wallis Annenberg Stadium Home Opener
August 27, 2018 | Men's Soccer
GAME INFORMATION
No. 12 UCLA (1-0-0) vs. San Diego (0-0-1)
Date/Time: Tuesday, Aug. 28, 2018 – 7:00 p.m. PT
Location: Los Angeles, Calif. (Wallis Annenberg Stadium)
TV/Stream: Pac-12 Networks
Commentary: Jim Watson (PxP), Cobi Jones (color)
Live Stats/Radio: UCLABruins.com
Radio Commentary: Nick Koop
Twitter Updates: @UCLAMSoccer
Tickets: $10 (GA) / $5 (youth/military)
BRUINS HOST TOREROS IN HOME OPENER, FIRST REGULAR SEASON GAME AT NEW STADIUM
After opening the season on the road, No. 12 UCLA (1-0-0) returns home this week to host San Diego in the Wallis Annenberg Stadium home opener. The match, televised by the Pac-12 Networks, will kick off at 7:00 p.m. Live stats and a radio broadcast are available on UCLABruins.com, while the @UCLAMSoccer Twitter account will provide live updates. Tuesday marks the UCLA men's first official game in the new stadium, but Bruin teams are a combined 3-0 so far in the new venue (women are 1-0 in regular season and 1-0 in exhibition, men are 1-0 in exhibition).
WEEK IN REVIEW
UCLA began the year on a high note last week, dropping four goals and maintaining a clean sheet to defeat No. 18 Coastal Carolina on the road. Freshman Matt Hundley opened the scoring in the first half, finding paydirt with a left-footed strike in the 24th minute. He extended UCLA's lead to 2-0 in the 71st minute, drilling a free kick from about 40 yards out. The Bruins put the game on ice with two goals in the final 13 minutes of the game; Mohammed Kamara chipped the goalie for a highlight-reel Division I debut goal, then Robert Knights redirected an Alex Knox cross in the 89th minute for his first career goal. Senior keeper Cole Martinez came up with three saves for his first career shutout.
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.
IN THE POLLS
Though UCLA did not make it into the top-25 of the preseason United Soccer Coaches Poll, the Bruins have made strides in both the Top Drawer and College Soccer News polls. Appearing at No. 17 in the preseason Top Drawer Poll, the Bruins were No. 12 in this week's poll. Similarly, UCLA jumped from No. 28 in the preseason to No. 17 this week in the CSN rankings. In the United Soccer Coaches poll, released Aug. 3, the Bruins received the second-most votes of teams outside the top-25. San Diego enters the week unranked.
BRUINS POT FOUR GOALS
Last Friday represented the second straight year that the Bruins pummeled the back of the net on Opening Day (UCLA defeated San Francisco 5-3 on Aug. 26, 2017). UCLA's current goals per game ratio trails only one school in the entire nation: Winthrop, who defeated Georgia Southwestern 6-0 in their lone contest.
STANDOUT DEBUT FOR HUNDLEY
Freshman midfielder Matt Hundley could scarcely have hoped for a better Division I debut, as the Littleton, Colo. native scored the team's first two goals and assisted on another for five points. What's more, he narrowly missed out on a hat trick as he had a shot roll just wide of the post in the sixth minute. With the outburst, he becomes:
• Just the second Bruin in the last three years to notch five points in a single game (Alex Knox, Oct. 26, 2017 vs. Oregon State)
• The first to do so on Opening Day since current assistant coach Matt Taylor notched a hat trick in the opening game of the 2003 season
• The only UCLA frosh this millennium to grab five points on Opening Day.
HUNDLEY NAMED TO COLLEGE SOCCER NEWS TEAM OF THE WEEK
With his dominant offensive performance, Hundley found himself named to the College Soccer News Team of the Week, one of just two freshmen on the 13-man team. Hundley is also a top candidate for the Pac-12 Player of the Week and UCLA/Muscle Milk Student Athlete of the Week awards.
KAMARA MAKES A CAMEO ON SPORTSCENTER
Junior forward and 2017 NJCAA National Player of the Year Mohammed Kamara's debut Division I goal caught the eyes of sports fans across the country, as his moonshot chip was featured as the No. 2 play on Friday night's Sportscenter Top 10. To view the goal for yourself, head to the @UCLAMSoccer Twitter account.
SCOUTING THE TOREROS
The Toreros come to Westwood with one game under their belt, a scoreless draw at home against Big West-member UC Irvine. UCLA defeated the Anteaters 1-0 in a preseason exhibition. Starting Tuesday, USD will play three matches in seven day period. The Toreros, under first-year head coach Brian Quinn, return eight starters from last year's squad, including all-region picks Miguel Berry (forward, 15 points in 2017) and Henry Lander (defender). Aaron Frey was the West Coast Conference's Freshman of the Year in 2018 and is one of three USD Preseason All-WCC choices alongside Berry and Lander. USD was 8-6-3 in 2017, the final season under 39-year head coach Seamus McFadden, reeling off a seven-match unbeaten streak at one point but closing the year on a four-game losing streak and missing the NCAA Tournament.
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 (Monrovia, Liberia / Tyler JC) and freshmen Frankie Amaya (No. 6 national prospect / Santa Ana, Calif. / Pateadores Academy), Justin Garces (No. 16 prospect / Miami, Fla. / Atlanta United Academy), Matt Hundley (No. 18 prospect / Littleton, Colo / Colorado Rapids Academy), and AJ Vasquez (No. 19 prospect / Mira Loma, Calif. / 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 (MF, Hartford) and Aristides Costeas (GK, 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. He is coming off a junior campaign that saw him contribute to four shutouts and record three points, including his first career goal on Sept. 1 at No. 6 Maryland. Holt was also named to the Preseason All-Pac-12 Team (see below).
LOOKING AHEAD
After Tuesday's home opener, UCLA will play host the San Francisco on Sunday, Sept. 2 at 7:00 p.m. The Bruins are in the midst of a stretch that sees them play four of five at home.
FROSH PAIR MAKE TOP DRAWER PRESEASON BEST XI
Goalkeeper Justin Garces and midfielder Matt 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, Defender) was the only other Pac-12 school represented.Two key members of the top recruiting class in the country, both 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.
2017 IN REVIEW
UCLA went 7-10-1 in 2017, finishing fourth in the Pac-12 and outside the NCAA Tournament. Departed senior Brian Illoski led the team in scoring with 15 points (six goals), making the All-Pac-12 First Team alongside Erik Holt. A young team, featuring just one other senior besides Brian Illoski, production was spread out throughout the roster, with 14 players recording a point. Eric Iloski (three points, 1,390 minutes, All-Pac-12 Honorable Mention), Santiago Herrera (seven points), Milan Iloski (eight points), and Alex Knox (four points, 16 games) all had solid debut seasons for the Bruins. UCLA played its best stretch of soccer in early October, winning a season-best three straight from Oct. 5-15, with victories coming against Oregon State, Washington, and SDSU.
EXHIBITION ROUNDUP
UCLA emerged victorious in both of its preseason exhibitions this summer, outscoring the opposition by an aggregate of 3-0 and allowing just two shots on goal combined. First, they comfortably took down Grand Canyon University 2-0 on Aug. 14 at Drake Stadium before edging out a 1-0 win over UC Irvine on Aug. 19 in the UCLA men's first game at Wallis Annenberg Stadium. Senior defender Matthew Powell opened the scoring against the Lopes, heading in an Erik Holt cross to go up 1-0. Seven minutes later, sophomore forward Santiago Herrera doubled the lead, getting a foot on a low Joab Santoyo cross and redirecting it inside the right post. GCU had just one shot on goal in the second half. Sophomore midfielder Andrew Paoli broke through for UCLA against the Anteaters in the 71st minute, hitting a 25-yard shot that took a carom and went back across and into the goal. UCI managed just one shot on goal for the entire contest.
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. TDS hasn't released its Top 100 freshmen list as of Aug. 27, but the Bruins are bound to have multiple athletes included on that list.
LAST TIME OUT AGAINST SAN DIEGO
Last year, the Bruins and Toreros met for the first time since the 2014 NCAA Tournament, with USD pulling out a 3-1 home win on Oct. 22, 2017. Aaron Frey scored off a corner kick seconds before halftime to put USD ahead, and Djordje Babic netted the game-winner just minutes after play resumed. Blayne Martinez managed to avoid the shutout for UCLA, converting on a Robert Knights rebound in the 89th minute for his second goal of the year.
No. 12 UCLA (1-0-0) vs. San Diego (0-0-1)
Date/Time: Tuesday, Aug. 28, 2018 – 7:00 p.m. PT
Location: Los Angeles, Calif. (Wallis Annenberg Stadium)
TV/Stream: Pac-12 Networks
Commentary: Jim Watson (PxP), Cobi Jones (color)
Live Stats/Radio: UCLABruins.com
Radio Commentary: Nick Koop
Twitter Updates: @UCLAMSoccer
Tickets: $10 (GA) / $5 (youth/military)
BRUINS HOST TOREROS IN HOME OPENER, FIRST REGULAR SEASON GAME AT NEW STADIUM
After opening the season on the road, No. 12 UCLA (1-0-0) returns home this week to host San Diego in the Wallis Annenberg Stadium home opener. The match, televised by the Pac-12 Networks, will kick off at 7:00 p.m. Live stats and a radio broadcast are available on UCLABruins.com, while the @UCLAMSoccer Twitter account will provide live updates. Tuesday marks the UCLA men's first official game in the new stadium, but Bruin teams are a combined 3-0 so far in the new venue (women are 1-0 in regular season and 1-0 in exhibition, men are 1-0 in exhibition).
WEEK IN REVIEW
UCLA began the year on a high note last week, dropping four goals and maintaining a clean sheet to defeat No. 18 Coastal Carolina on the road. Freshman Matt Hundley opened the scoring in the first half, finding paydirt with a left-footed strike in the 24th minute. He extended UCLA's lead to 2-0 in the 71st minute, drilling a free kick from about 40 yards out. The Bruins put the game on ice with two goals in the final 13 minutes of the game; Mohammed Kamara chipped the goalie for a highlight-reel Division I debut goal, then Robert Knights redirected an Alex Knox cross in the 89th minute for his first career goal. Senior keeper Cole Martinez came up with three saves for his first career shutout.
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.
IN THE POLLS
Though UCLA did not make it into the top-25 of the preseason United Soccer Coaches Poll, the Bruins have made strides in both the Top Drawer and College Soccer News polls. Appearing at No. 17 in the preseason Top Drawer Poll, the Bruins were No. 12 in this week's poll. Similarly, UCLA jumped from No. 28 in the preseason to No. 17 this week in the CSN rankings. In the United Soccer Coaches poll, released Aug. 3, the Bruins received the second-most votes of teams outside the top-25. San Diego enters the week unranked.
BRUINS POT FOUR GOALS
Last Friday represented the second straight year that the Bruins pummeled the back of the net on Opening Day (UCLA defeated San Francisco 5-3 on Aug. 26, 2017). UCLA's current goals per game ratio trails only one school in the entire nation: Winthrop, who defeated Georgia Southwestern 6-0 in their lone contest.
STANDOUT DEBUT FOR HUNDLEY
Freshman midfielder Matt Hundley could scarcely have hoped for a better Division I debut, as the Littleton, Colo. native scored the team's first two goals and assisted on another for five points. What's more, he narrowly missed out on a hat trick as he had a shot roll just wide of the post in the sixth minute. With the outburst, he becomes:
• Just the second Bruin in the last three years to notch five points in a single game (Alex Knox, Oct. 26, 2017 vs. Oregon State)
• The first to do so on Opening Day since current assistant coach Matt Taylor notched a hat trick in the opening game of the 2003 season
• The only UCLA frosh this millennium to grab five points on Opening Day.
HUNDLEY NAMED TO COLLEGE SOCCER NEWS TEAM OF THE WEEK
With his dominant offensive performance, Hundley found himself named to the College Soccer News Team of the Week, one of just two freshmen on the 13-man team. Hundley is also a top candidate for the Pac-12 Player of the Week and UCLA/Muscle Milk Student Athlete of the Week awards.
KAMARA MAKES A CAMEO ON SPORTSCENTER
Junior forward and 2017 NJCAA National Player of the Year Mohammed Kamara's debut Division I goal caught the eyes of sports fans across the country, as his moonshot chip was featured as the No. 2 play on Friday night's Sportscenter Top 10. To view the goal for yourself, head to the @UCLAMSoccer Twitter account.
SCOUTING THE TOREROS
The Toreros come to Westwood with one game under their belt, a scoreless draw at home against Big West-member UC Irvine. UCLA defeated the Anteaters 1-0 in a preseason exhibition. Starting Tuesday, USD will play three matches in seven day period. The Toreros, under first-year head coach Brian Quinn, return eight starters from last year's squad, including all-region picks Miguel Berry (forward, 15 points in 2017) and Henry Lander (defender). Aaron Frey was the West Coast Conference's Freshman of the Year in 2018 and is one of three USD Preseason All-WCC choices alongside Berry and Lander. USD was 8-6-3 in 2017, the final season under 39-year head coach Seamus McFadden, reeling off a seven-match unbeaten streak at one point but closing the year on a four-game losing streak and missing the NCAA Tournament.
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 (Monrovia, Liberia / Tyler JC) and freshmen Frankie Amaya (No. 6 national prospect / Santa Ana, Calif. / Pateadores Academy), Justin Garces (No. 16 prospect / Miami, Fla. / Atlanta United Academy), Matt Hundley (No. 18 prospect / Littleton, Colo / Colorado Rapids Academy), and AJ Vasquez (No. 19 prospect / Mira Loma, Calif. / 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 (MF, Hartford) and Aristides Costeas (GK, 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. He is coming off a junior campaign that saw him contribute to four shutouts and record three points, including his first career goal on Sept. 1 at No. 6 Maryland. Holt was also named to the Preseason All-Pac-12 Team (see below).
LOOKING AHEAD
After Tuesday's home opener, UCLA will play host the San Francisco on Sunday, Sept. 2 at 7:00 p.m. The Bruins are in the midst of a stretch that sees them play four of five at home.
FROSH PAIR MAKE TOP DRAWER PRESEASON BEST XI
Goalkeeper Justin Garces and midfielder Matt 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, Defender) was the only other Pac-12 school represented.Two key members of the top recruiting class in the country, both 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.
2017 IN REVIEW
UCLA went 7-10-1 in 2017, finishing fourth in the Pac-12 and outside the NCAA Tournament. Departed senior Brian Illoski led the team in scoring with 15 points (six goals), making the All-Pac-12 First Team alongside Erik Holt. A young team, featuring just one other senior besides Brian Illoski, production was spread out throughout the roster, with 14 players recording a point. Eric Iloski (three points, 1,390 minutes, All-Pac-12 Honorable Mention), Santiago Herrera (seven points), Milan Iloski (eight points), and Alex Knox (four points, 16 games) all had solid debut seasons for the Bruins. UCLA played its best stretch of soccer in early October, winning a season-best three straight from Oct. 5-15, with victories coming against Oregon State, Washington, and SDSU.
EXHIBITION ROUNDUP
UCLA emerged victorious in both of its preseason exhibitions this summer, outscoring the opposition by an aggregate of 3-0 and allowing just two shots on goal combined. First, they comfortably took down Grand Canyon University 2-0 on Aug. 14 at Drake Stadium before edging out a 1-0 win over UC Irvine on Aug. 19 in the UCLA men's first game at Wallis Annenberg Stadium. Senior defender Matthew Powell opened the scoring against the Lopes, heading in an Erik Holt cross to go up 1-0. Seven minutes later, sophomore forward Santiago Herrera doubled the lead, getting a foot on a low Joab Santoyo cross and redirecting it inside the right post. GCU had just one shot on goal in the second half. Sophomore midfielder Andrew Paoli broke through for UCLA against the Anteaters in the 71st minute, hitting a 25-yard shot that took a carom and went back across and into the goal. UCI managed just one shot on goal for the entire contest.
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. TDS hasn't released its Top 100 freshmen list as of Aug. 27, but the Bruins are bound to have multiple athletes included on that list.
LAST TIME OUT AGAINST SAN DIEGO
Last year, the Bruins and Toreros met for the first time since the 2014 NCAA Tournament, with USD pulling out a 3-1 home win on Oct. 22, 2017. Aaron Frey scored off a corner kick seconds before halftime to put USD ahead, and Djordje Babic netted the game-winner just minutes after play resumed. Blayne Martinez managed to avoid the shutout for UCLA, converting on a Robert Knights rebound in the 89th minute for his second goal of the year.
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