UCLA
1-4-1, 0-3-1
Washington
6-1-0, 3-1-0
UCLA Suffers Tough-Luck Loss to No. 7 Washington
March 14, 2021 | Men's Soccer
LOS ANGELES – The UCLA men's soccer team recorded a 2-0 loss to No. 7 Washington on Sunday afternoon at Wallis Annenberg Stadium.
The Bruins (1-4-1, 0-3-1) outshot the Huskies (6-1-0, 3-1-0) by a margin of 9-8 and controlled possession for the majority of the game, particularly in the second half, but couldn't find an equalizer following Ryan Sailor's 31st minute tally.
With UCLA pressing forward, Washington would add a late goal from Christian Soto (88') to seal the result.
The Huskies opened the scoring off a set piece at the 30:05 mark. After a partial clearance by UCLA, Washington defender Cole Grimsby whipped the ball back into the box where Christian Soto re-directed it to Ryan Sailor at the far post for the goal.
The Bruins began to take control of the match after the Sailor opener, and had the Huskies on their heels for long periods of the second half.
UCLA's three best chances to score came courtesy of junior forward Kevin Diaz and sophomore winger Constantinos Michaelides.
Michaelides, making his 2020-21 debut, got in deep on the left side on two occasions in the second half. The first time, in the 68th minute, he was able to put a shot on frame but it was stopped by UW keeper Sam Fowler.
He had perhaps UCLA's best look at net in the 87th minute when he shot from a sharp angle to the keeper's right, but his left-footed shot went wide of the far post.
Diaz meanwhile had a decent look at net in the 81st, as a period of build up for UCLA led to an open shot from just above the 18. However, he didn't get all of the ball on his half-volley attempt, and it was saved by Fowler.
Sunday's contest represented the end of a stretch that saw UCLA face a top-15 opponent in three consecutive and four out of five games.
The Bruins are next in action on Saturday, Mar. 20, traveling to Cal for a Pac-12 battle in Berkeley.
Team Stats
Sailor, Ryan (2)
Assisted By: Grimsby, Cole , Soto, Christian
GOAL by WASH Sailor, Ryan (FIRST GOAL), Assist by Grimsby, Cole and Soto, Christian, goal number 2 for season.
30:05
Soto, Christian (3)
Assisted By: Threadgold, Gabe
GOAL by WASH Soto, Christian, Assist by Threadgold, Gabe, goal number 3 for season.
87:11
