UCLA (2-1-1) at Cal State Fullerton (3-2-2)
Date/Time: Sunday, Sept. 17 - 6:00 p.m. (PT)
Location: Fullerton, Calif. (Titan Stadium)
Stream: ESPN+
Live Stats
UCLA Heads to Fullerton for a Non-Conference Tilt Against the Titans
After hosting a two-game homestand last week, the UCLA men's soccer team (2-1-1) hits the road to face Big West opponents in its next two contests, starting on Sunday, Sept. 17 at Cal State Fullerton at 6 p.m. PT. The contest will be streamed live through ESPN+. Fans can also follow along with live stats at uclalivestats.com, and live tweets from @UCLAMSoccer.
Quick Hits
UCLA went 1-0-1 in a pair of home games last week, drawing CSUN, 1-1, before blanking Rutgers by a score of 4-0:
UCLA graduate forward Jack Sarkos has been on a tear to open the season, scoring a team-high five goals over the first four games of the year. His 1.25 goals per game rate leads the NCAA, and his total goal tally co-leads the Pac-12 and ranks ninth nationally. Notably, his five goals would have led UCLA for the entire 2022 season. He's the first Bruin to post five goals in a four-game span, and the first Bruin with five goals in the first four games of the season, since Milan Iloski accomplished both in 2019 (Iloski went on to lead the NCAA that season with 1.06 goals per game).
Notable Statistical Rankings
The Bruins head into this week's contest with strong marks, in the Pac-12 and nationally, in the following stats:
UCLA logged a 1-0 win at home on Sept. 24 of last season in the most-recent match-up against Cal State Fullerton. Then-senior Constantinos Michaelides netted the game-winner for the Bruins in the eighth minute, heading home a Riley Ferch ball. The Bruins held CSF off the board the rest of the way. There were several notable defensive efforts, none more important than Andre Ochoa's sliding goal-line clearance in the 69th minute.
The All-Time Series Against the Titans
UCLA owns a 31-7-3 record all-time against Cal State Fullerton. The Bruins enter the contest with a four-game winning streak and eight-game unbeaten streak against the Titans. UCLA is playing a game at Cal State Fullerton for the first time since 2010.
In The Polls
UCLA appeared in two major national polls this week, receiving votes in both the United Soccer Coaches and College Soccer News polls. In addition, the Bruins were ranked sixth in the United Soccer Coaches Far West Region poll. UCLA was ranked as high as No. 27 (CSN) in national preseason polls, and was the team with the most votes outside the top-25 in the United Soccer Coaches preseason poll.
Date/Time: Sunday, Sept. 17 - 6:00 p.m. (PT)
Location: Fullerton, Calif. (Titan Stadium)
Stream: ESPN+
Live Stats
UCLA Heads to Fullerton for a Non-Conference Tilt Against the Titans
After hosting a two-game homestand last week, the UCLA men's soccer team (2-1-1) hits the road to face Big West opponents in its next two contests, starting on Sunday, Sept. 17 at Cal State Fullerton at 6 p.m. PT. The contest will be streamed live through ESPN+. Fans can also follow along with live stats at uclalivestats.com, and live tweets from @UCLAMSoccer.
Quick Hits
- UCLA is 2-1-1 through its first four games of the season, with wins coming against Virginia Tech and Rutgers
- The Bruins pace the Pac-12 in shots per game (16.25), saves per game (4.25), and fewest fouls per game (10.25)
- Jack Sarkos enters the weekend as the national leader in goals per game (1.25); his five goals rank ninth nationally
- The Bruins scored four goals vs. VT on Aug. 24, their most in a season-opener since 2018
- Sarkos had two goals in that Virginia Tech game, becoming the first player with a brace in his Bruin debut since 2018
- Dating to Sept. 15 of last season, UCLA has allowed one goal or fewer in 17 of its last 19 games
- All four UCLA goal scorers this season had not previously recorded a goal as Bruins
- Sept. 4's result represented UCLA's first tie in a home game since Feb. 20, 2021 (a span of 27 home contests)
- UCLA is 2-0-1 this season when scoring first, and 0-1-0 when conceding first
UCLA went 1-0-1 in a pair of home games last week, drawing CSUN, 1-1, before blanking Rutgers by a score of 4-0:
- Both squads scored in the final 10 minutes of the contest, as Jack Sarkos opened the scoring in the 84th before CSUN answered with a succesful PK conversion in the 88th. Sarkos's goal came off a long ball from Pablo Greenlee, who split two Matador backs to set up Sarkos at the back post with an uncontested header, going back across to the opposite post to beat the CSUN keeper. UCLA had the three best chances of the opening 80 minutes, having a PK go off the woodwork in the 20th followed by strong shots from Tucker Lepley in the 34th and Sarkos in the 58th. UCLA out-shot CSUN 18-8 for the game.
- UCLA scored three second-half goals to power past Rutgers, 4-0, last Saturday. Sarkos led the Bruins with his second brace of the year, book-ending the scoring by finishing off low crosses from teammates Jose Contell and Tommy Silva. Cam Wilkerson and Sean Karani also found the back of the net for UCLA, the latter notching his first goal as a Bruin. Sam Joseph made three saves as the Bruins notched their first clean sheet of the year.
UCLA graduate forward Jack Sarkos has been on a tear to open the season, scoring a team-high five goals over the first four games of the year. His 1.25 goals per game rate leads the NCAA, and his total goal tally co-leads the Pac-12 and ranks ninth nationally. Notably, his five goals would have led UCLA for the entire 2022 season. He's the first Bruin to post five goals in a four-game span, and the first Bruin with five goals in the first four games of the season, since Milan Iloski accomplished both in 2019 (Iloski went on to lead the NCAA that season with 1.06 goals per game).
Notable Statistical Rankings
The Bruins head into this week's contest with strong marks, in the Pac-12 and nationally, in the following stats:
- Assists Per Game - 2.75 (3rd in Pac-12 / 10th in NCAA)
- Points Per Game - 7.25 (3rd in Pac-12 / 14th in NCAA)
- Save Percentage - .850 (2nd in Pac-12 / 16th in NCAA)
- Goals Per Game - 2.25 (3rd in Pac-12 / 18th in NCAA)
- Goal Differential - +6 (3rd in Pac-12 / 26th in NCAA)
- Goals Against Average - 0.75 (2nd in Pac-12 / 30th in NCAA)
- Saves Per Game - 4.25 (1st in Pac-12 / 43rd in NCAA)
- Fewest Fouls Per Game - 10.25 (1st in Pac-12 / 48th in NCAA)
UCLA logged a 1-0 win at home on Sept. 24 of last season in the most-recent match-up against Cal State Fullerton. Then-senior Constantinos Michaelides netted the game-winner for the Bruins in the eighth minute, heading home a Riley Ferch ball. The Bruins held CSF off the board the rest of the way. There were several notable defensive efforts, none more important than Andre Ochoa's sliding goal-line clearance in the 69th minute.
The All-Time Series Against the Titans
UCLA owns a 31-7-3 record all-time against Cal State Fullerton. The Bruins enter the contest with a four-game winning streak and eight-game unbeaten streak against the Titans. UCLA is playing a game at Cal State Fullerton for the first time since 2010.
In The Polls
UCLA appeared in two major national polls this week, receiving votes in both the United Soccer Coaches and College Soccer News polls. In addition, the Bruins were ranked sixth in the United Soccer Coaches Far West Region poll. UCLA was ranked as high as No. 27 (CSN) in national preseason polls, and was the team with the most votes outside the top-25 in the United Soccer Coaches preseason poll.