UCLA
4-2-2, 1-0-1
California
4-3-3, 1-2-1
Men's Soccer Downs California, 2-1
October 01, 2023 | Men's Soccer
LOS ANGELES – Graduate midfielder Ryan Becher and redshirt junior midfielder Tucker Lepley both scored second-half goals to fuel UCLA to a 2-1 win over California on Sunday afternoon at Wallis Annenberg Stadium.
The result capped off an unbeaten first week of league play for UCLA (4-2-2, 1-0-1 Pac-12), which opened its conference ledger with a 2-2 draw against Stanford on Thursday.
Despite winning by a lone goal, the Bruins had the lion's share of possession and scoring chances on Sunday, outshooting the visitors by a margin of 17-7 and forcing Cal keeper Zack Andoh to make nine saves. UCLA never trailed in the contest, and Cal (4-3-3, 1-2-1) didn't break through on the scoresheet until the 87th minute of the contest.
Becher netted the game's first goal in the 50th minute, the second consecutive contest in which he's opened the scoring.
Redshirt junior forward Jose Contell set up that chance by drawing two defenders to him near the end line on the right wing before threading a cross in that snuck between three Golden Bear defenders. Becher met the cross near the penalty spot, and re-directed it first time with his right foot low and inside the far post.
50' | UCLA GOAL!!!
— UCLA Men's Soccer (@UCLAMSoccer) October 1, 2023
Ryan Becher slots a cross from Jose Contell into the left-side netting!
UCLA 1, Cal 0#GoBruins pic.twitter.com/cRnbJnIocW
UCLA mostly maintained control of the game after Becher's opener, but had to navigate an eventful last 10 minutes of the game to secure the three points.
In the 81st minute, Cal earned a penalty kick following a foul in the box, but the spot kick went off the crossbar to keep the score line at 1-0.
Lepley doubled the Bruins' leads in the 86th minute, dancing between four defenders before getting the ball on his left foot and uncorking a shot from the penalty arc. It was his second goal of the year.
86' | UCLA GOAL!!!
— UCLA Men's Soccer (@UCLAMSoccer) October 1, 2023
Tucker Lepley curls a shot into the top right corner from outside the box!
UCLA 2, Cal 0#gobruins pic.twitter.com/5KA3Fx7fsE
The Bruins would turn out to be immediately grateful for Lepley's highlight-reel play, as Cal would pull a goal back just 41 seconds later via Juan Martinez. That would prove to be Cal's lone shot on goal of the contest however, as the Bruins clamped down on the visitors for the final three and a half minutes.
UCLA had a dominant showing in the first half despite not having anything to show for it on the scoreboard, out-shooting the Golden Bears 10-1 for the period. UCLA had a pair of Grade-A opportunities in the half, with Becher hitting the crossbar in the 13th minute and senior forward Andre Ochoa forcing Andoh to make a low stop of a hard-struck shot in the 29th.
The Bruins hit the road for two Pac-12 games next week, facing Oregon State on Thursday at 7 p.m. PT and Washington on Sunday at 2 p.m. PT. Both will be televised on the Pac-12 Networks.
Team Stats
Ryan Becher (3)
Assisted By: Jose Contell
GOAL by UCLA Becher, Ryan Assist by Contell, Jose.
49:01
Tucker Lepley (2)
GOAL by UCLA Lepley, Tucker.
85:45
Juan Martinez (3)
Assisted By: Wyatt Meyer
GOAL by CAL Martinez, Juan Assist by Meyer, Wyatt.
86:26
