LOS ANGELES - No. 4 UCLA scored two second-half goals to turn a scoreless game at the half into a 2-0 Bruin victory. Marley Canales and Delanie Sheehan scored their first goals of the season, and Teagan Micah collected her third shutout of the season.
Florida (2-2) challenged UCLA (4-0) in the first half, with a few strong scoring opportunities, but the Bruins were there each time to stop the threat. In the 31st minute, the Gators got ahead on the counterattack, but Micah was able to stop Kit Loferski's shot. Four minutes later, the Gators found themselves with the ball in the box, but Kaiya McCullough stepped up with a big block in the box on a shot by Laney Steed.
The Bruins, who improved their unbeaten streak to 17 games, broke the scoreless tie early in the second half. Jessie Fleming got free after a long ball and was fouled in the box by Florida goalkeeper Susi Espinoza as she took the shot. Canales converted the penalty kick at 47:40 for her first goal of the 2019 campaign.
UCLA doubled its lead in the 59th minute when Sheehan followed up on a rebounded shot. Kali Trevithick's initial breakaway shot was blocked by a Florida defender, and the rebound went to Sheehan, who one-timed it into the back of the net.
Following up the shot. That's what we like to see from @DelanieSheehan and the Bruins. #GoBruins | #Pac12Soccer pic.twitter.com/Po6GkmspYW
— UCLA Women's Soccer (@UCLAWSoccer) September 2, 2019
Micah made three saves in the contest and earned her 50th career win as a Bruin and her 29th career shutout.
The victory made it a clean sweep for Southern California schools over Florida schools this weekend, as No. 5 USC handed No. 1 Florida State a 3-2 overtime loss in the first game of the doubleheader at Wallis Annenberg Stadium. On Thursday, UCLA earned a 2-1 win over Florida State, while USC beat Florida, 3-1.
The Bruins will next play at No. 19 Santa Clara on Thursday, Sept. 5.