Bruins Drop Pac-12 Opener to Unbeaten Washington State, 1-0
September 21, 2018 | Women's Soccer
LOS ANGELES - Despite outshooting Washington State, 19-6, No. 8 UCLA was handed a 1-0 loss to the No. 14 Cougars thanks to a counterattack goal by Morgan Weaver in the 61st minute.
The game was played in front of a Wallis Annenberg Stadium record 2,496 fans.
The Bruins (5-2-1, 0-1-0 in the Pac-12) had several major chances go unheeded, including a shot by Viviana Villacorta that hit the post in the eighth minute and the subsequent rebound that was cleared off the line. Olivia Athens also had a good look at goal in the 27th minute, but Washington State goalkeeper Rachel Thompson tipped the shot over the crossbar and out of play. Sunny Dunphy broke free of the defense in the 35th minute, but Thompson rushed out to make a save on her shot. Julia Hernandez nearly scored on a chip shot after a corner kick in the 52nd minute, but her shot was finger-tipped over the crossbar.
UCLA's Lauren Brzykcy, who got the call in goal just before kickoff after starter Teagan Micah was injured during warmups, made a huge save in the 59th minute on a point blank one-timed shot by Elyse Bennett. Brzykcy slid towards Bennett as she received the cross to get in the perfect position to block the shot with her body. Two minutes later, however, the Cougars broke free on a counterattack, with Aaqila McLyn springing Weaver free. Weaver split the defense and fired past Brzykcy for her sixth goal of the season.
The Bruins kept plugging away to try to score the equalizer but either could not find the right connections or hit their shots straight to Thompson, who made nine saves on the night. Brzykcy had two saves on six Cougar shots.
With the victory, Washington State remains unbeaten with an 8-0-0 record.
UCLA will next play at No. 1 Stanford on Thursday, Sept. 27.
Team Stats

Weaver,Morgan (6)
Assisted By: McLyn,Aaqila
long run to far post
60:53