Jessie Fleming (photo by Scott Chandler)Jessie Fleming (photo by Scott Chandler)
Scott Chandler

The Bruins celebrate after Jessie Fleming scores the game's first goal

UCLA Cruises to 4-1 NCAA First Round Victory over Lamar

Women's Soccer

Bruins score three first-half goals en route to sixth-straight victory.

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LOS ANGELES - No. 2 seed UCLA scored three first-half goals and cruised to a 4-1 victory over Lamar University in the first round of the NCAA Tournament.

The Bruins (15-4-1) shut down the third-ranked offense in the nation, holding the Cardinals (16-7-0) to just one shot in the first half and six shots overall, allowing a goal only in the final minute on a curling shot by Lucy Ashworth. UCLA's offense was on full display, as the Bruins had a season-high 33 shots, 21 on goal. Only a super-human performance by Lamar goalkeeper Erin Branch, who totaled 15 saves, and a pair of team saves kept the score at bay.

The first half was all UCLA, and Jessie Fleming set the tone early with a goal at 9:00 off an Anika Rodriguez corner kick. Rodriguez sent a low corner to the top of the box to Fleming, who fired to the right corner, beating Branch for the opening score. The goal was her third of the season and her seventh all-time in NCAA Tournament play. Fleming has scored a team-high 20 career points in the NCAA Tournament.

The Bruins doubled-up the score in the 32nd minute after Delanie Sheehan scored her second goal of the year on a rebound after Sunny Dunphy's shot hit the post. Five minutes later, Maricarmen Reyes made it 3-0, banging home a loose ball in the box after her initial header was blocked in front of the goal by a Lamar defender. The goal was Reyes' third in just seven games.

Armed with a three-goal lead at the half, the Bruins were able to rest some players and get players tournament experience. A total of 21 players saw action, including goalkeeper Lauren Brzycky, who spelled starter Teagan Micah in the 52nd minute. Brzycky was tested within seconds of entering the game, as Anna Loftus' shot hit the crossbar, but the redshirt sophomore did well to stay composed and keep the Cardinals at bay until the final minute. The Bruins got their last goal in the 75th minute, with freshman Kali Trevithick, who was playing in just her second game back after missing 14 games due to injury, recording her first collegiate goal off an assist by Viviana Villacorta.

UCLA will next host Clemson in the NCAA second round on Friday, Nov. 22 at Wallis Annenberg Stadium. The Bruins and Tigers will play at 8pm, following the 5pm match between Duke and No. 3 seed Wisconsin. The winners of the second round games will then face each other in the third round on Sunday, Nov. 24 at 4pm.