LOS ANGELES - The UCLA men's soccer team, under the guidance of first-year head coach Ryan Jorden, begins its 2019 campaign this week with a pair of exhibition matches. The Bruins are set to host NAIA-member Westmont on Tuesday night at Wallis Annenberg Stadium, then will head east to face Omaha on Saturday night at 5:30 p.m. PT.
Tuesday's exhibition against Westmont is scheduled for a 7:00 kickoff, and admission is free. Saturday's contest in Omaha will have live stats and a video stream, both accessible on the UCLA men's soccer schedule page.
The Bruins return 15 players and five starters from a 2018 squad that finished 10-9 and qualified for the NCAA Tournament. Key returners include senior defender Matt Powell, one of three UCLA players to start all 19 games last year, junior forward Milan Iloski, who was third on the team with eight points in 2018, and sophomore goalkeeper Justin Garces, who last year posted the most wins and lowest goals-against-average by a UCLA freshman keeper since 2000.
Westmont, based in Montecito, Calif., is coming off a 10-6-2 season and a second round exit in the Golden State Athletic Conference Tournament. The Warriors have already played one exhibition this summer, falling 1-0 to UC Santa Barbara on Aug. 17.
Omaha logged a 7-8-1 record last season, but went 4-1 in Summit League play. Last year, UCLA defeated Omaha 2-1 at home on Sept. 12, with Powell notching the game-winning goal in the 76th minute off a corner kick.
UCLA officially opens its season on Aug. 30, facing Northwestern in Bloomington, Ind. as part of the Adidas/IU Credit Union Classic. The Bruins face tourney host Indiana two days later on Sept. 1.
The Bruins host defending national champion Maryland on Sept. 6 at 7:00 p.m. in the team's home opener. Single-game tickets are available now HERE.