UCLA
1-0-0
Northwestern
0-1-0
Iloski's Golden Goal Hands Bruins 1-0 Win Over Northwestern
August 30, 2019 | Men's Soccer
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – Junior forward Milan Iloski scored in the 95th minute to give the UCLA men's soccer team a 1-0 overtime win over Northwestern on Friday afternoon in the opening game of the 2019 campaign. The contest was also the first of the 2019 IU/Adidas Credit Union Classic hosted by the University of Indiana.
UCLA (1-0-0) controlled the run of play in the first half and overtime, stretching the team's unbeaten streak in season-opening games to seven.
Northwestern (0-1-0) had a flurry of offensive opportunities in the second half, but had all seven of its on-frame attempts steered away by UCLA sophomore keeper Justin Garces. The seven stops were a new career-high for the Miami, Fla. native, eclipsing his previous standard of five.
The game-winning play got its start at the left flank on the foot of junior midfielder Marcony Pimentel, who slipped a ball back across the top of the box to freshman midfielder Luke Bone, which started a series of lateral passes that led to freshman midfielder Riley Ferch getting played deep and out wide on the right.
With a number of Bruin teammates making runs at goal, Ferch sent in a cross that got between three Wildcats, leaving one defender to mark both Iloski and Blayne Martinez. Iloski took advantage of the moment's hesitation, pouncing on the loose ball in the six and re-directing it into the net with his left foot.
It was the third consecutive game for the Bruins in which an Iloski scored a goal. Milan had a goal and a helper in the team's season-opening 3-0 exhibition win over Westmont, while brother Eric had the lone tally in the Bruins' 1-0 scrimmage victory at Omaha last week.
Pimentel was one of the Bruins' top threats throughout the game, recording a team-high six shots. His running first-touch shot off a short corner in the 43rd minute represented the first shot on goal of the game.
After a light workload in the first half, Garces was tasked with repelling a suddenly-aggressive Northwestern attack after the halftime break. Posting no shots on goal in the first half, the Wildcats launched five efforts on frame within the first 10 minutes of the second stanza. Garces was at his most impressive in the 47th, making back-to-back close-range saves on Bardia Kimiavi in rapid succession.
He also made a diving stop of a goal-bound drive to the bottom left corner by Matt Moderwell in the 53rd.
Sophomore midfielder Cody Sundquist made an impact off the bench, earning the secondary assist on Iloski's golden goal and making a nice run in the 65th minute that led to a partial breakaway.
Northwestern was led by Richie Bennett and Kimiava, who had three shots apiece. Jose Del Valle had a decent look at net in the first half after getting his head on a cross in the 20th minute, but his effort from inside the 18 went over the bar.
UCLA is next in action on Sunday at 5:00 p.m. PT, taking on No. 2-ranked Indiana in the final contest of the IU/Adidas Credit Union Classic. Live stats and a stream (subscription required) will be available on UCLABruins.com, while the contest will also be televised on the Big Ten Network.
Team Stats
Iloski, Milan (1)
Assisted By: Ferch, Riley , Sundquist, Cody
Pass from middle out wide, cross into bo
94:47
