UCLA
2-6-2, 1-5-2
Oregon State
7-4-0, 4-4-0
Men's Soccer Takes Down No. 9 Oregon State, 2-1
April 03, 2021 | Men's Soccer
LOS ANGELES – The UCLA men's soccer team registered a 2-1 victory over No. 9 Oregon State on Saturday afternoon in the penultimate home game of the season at Wallis Annenberg Stadium.
The Bruins (2-6-2, 1-5-2) received goals on either side of the halftime break from junior forward Kevin Diaz and sophomore winger Constantinos Michaelides. That two-goal lead allowed UCLA to withstand a late charge from Oregon State (7-4-0, 4-4-0), which scored at the 77:04 mark but was denied an equalizer.
As has been common during the last five games, UCLA enjoyed the majority of possession on Saturday. The Bruins ended the contest with a 10-9 edge in shots and a 6-1 advantage in corners.
Diaz got the Bruins on the board in the 33rd minute after converting on a penalty kick. The left-footed Diaz shot low and to the keeper's left, but OSU keeper Adrian Fernandez dove the opposite way.
33' | UCLA GOAL!!!!
— UCLA Men's Soccer (@UCLAMSoccer) April 3, 2021
Grayson Doody draws a PK and Kevin Diaz buries the spot kick to put the Bruins ahead in the first half.
UCLA 1, OSU 0
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It was the Bruins' first successful penalty of the season in two tries. Freshman forward Grayson Doody earned the penalty for the Bruins, as he was dragged down from behind while running down a Jose Sosa ball on the right edge of the box.
The PK make was one of several chances for the Bruins in the opening 45 minutes. Ollie de Visser narrowly missed out on a 50-50 ball with the keeper in the 13th minute, Riley Ferch put a ball on frame off a direct free kick in the 19th minute, Tommy Silva blasted a shot from 30 yards out in the 38th minute, and Michaelides sparked a dangerous-looking counter in the 42nd minute after picking off a ball in the defensive third.
Michaelides doubled the Bruins' lead with a goal in the 63rd minute. Silva started the play by sending a long ball to Ferch from the defensive half near the left touch line. With a 2-on-1 opportunity, Ferch played a first-touch ball at the midfield stripe to Michaelides on the left wing, and the Cyprus native took off and sprinted past the last OSU defender before finishing slotting the keeper with a right-footed shot.
It was the first goal of the season for Michaelides and second in his collegiate career.
64' | UCLA GOAL!!!
— UCLA Men's Soccer (@UCLAMSoccer) April 3, 2021
Constantinos Michaelides makes it a two-goal lead for UCLA with his first score of the year.
UCLA 2, OSU 0
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Oregon State began to apply some pressure in the final 20 minutes of the game. UCLA keeper Justin Garces made a tough save in the 73rd minute to keep it a two-goal game, but the Beavers broke through in the 78th minute on a strong individual effort from forward Gloire Amanda, who collected the rebound after his initial shot was blocked, and then hammered a left-footed shot into the right side of the net.
The Bruins held them off the board the rest of the way, with the visitors mustering just one shot – a Sofianne Djeffal effort that was blocked – after Amanda's score.
UCLA returns to action on Thursday, Apr. 8, traveling to league rival Washington for the team's final road game of the year. The contest, scheduled for a 4:00 p.m. PT start, will be televised on the Pac-12 Networks.
Team Stats
Diaz, Kevin
UCLA Diaz, Kevin PENALTY KICK GOAL.
32:03
Michaelides, Constan (1)
Assisted By: Ferch, Riley , Silva, Tommy
GOAL by UCLA Michaelides, Constan, Assist by Ferch, Riley and Silva, Tommy, goal number 1 for season.
62:56
Amanda, Gloire (12)
Assisted By: Hafferty, Joe
GOAL by OSU Amanda, Gloire, Assist by Hafferty, Joe, goal number 12 for season.
77:04
