UCLA
4-2-3, 1-0-2
Oregon State
5-3-2, 2-0-2
Bruins Rally to Draw at Oregon State, 2-2
October 05, 2023 | Men's Soccer
CORVALLIS, Ore. – Graduate forward Jack Sarkos and graduate midfielder Ryan Becher scored in quick succession midway through the second half to bring the UCLA men's soccer team back from two goals down and earn a 2-2 draw at Oregon State on Thursday night at Paul Lorenz Field.
The 1-2 punch from Becher and Sarkos was the latest in a run of strong play for the graduate-transfer duo.
Becher, the reigning Pac-12 Player of the Week, has now scored in three consecutive games. Sarkos meanwhile moved into a tie for the league lead in goals this season with eight.
With the result, UCLA (4-2-3, 1-0-2) remained unbeaten in league play. Oregon State, which entered the game atop the Pac-12 table, moved to 5-3-2, 2-0-2 on the year.
The Bruins had to battle back almost immediately after kickoff on Thursday, as Oregon State's Fabian Straudi found the back of the net just 37 seconds into the contest with a strike from atop the box.
UCLA was the better team for the remainder of the opening half – based on possession and scoring chances – but couldn't create an equalizer. Senior left back Tommy Silva had arguably the Bruins' top chance of the half in the 13th minute, as he met a long ball from the midfield with a volley that went off the left post. Redshirt junior Jose Contell also had a good look just before Silva's volley, making a nice move to set himself up for a sharp-angle shot to the near post, but it was saved by OSU keeper Luis Castillo.
The hosts went on to double their lead early in the second half, as Ellis Spikner made a cutback inside the box before finishing with a low strike inside the near post.
UCLA began the march back with Sarkos's goal at the 60:03 mark. The play got started with a long ball played down the right side line from graduate defender Owen Schwartz. With Sarkos bearing down, an OSU defender made a bad touch trying to clear the ball and lost his balance, allowing Sarkos to advance on goal undefended. From there, Sarkos took a touch and got the ball back on his right foot, blasting a shot to the keeper's right and inside the far post.
The Bruins went on to equalize just seven minutes later off a corner kick. Silva started the play by serving into the box, and his corner went on to bounce around inside the box. Sarkos tried to poke a shot into the net, but it was stopped at the goal line by an OSU defender. However, Becher was waiting to clean up the rebound, popping it back in with a left-footed shot.
Silva had the Bruins' best look of the remainder of the contest, looping in a long shot in the 89th minute that required a back-pedaling leap from Castillo to push the attempt over the bar.
UCLA ended the contest with a 19-18 edge in shots, matching a season-high. The Bruins have recorded double-digit shots in the first nine games of the season, matching the program's longest streak of 10+ shot games since 2017.
The Bruins conclude their Pacific Northwest trip on Sunday, facing No. 20 Washington at 2 p.m. PT on the Pac-12 Networks.
Team Stats
Fabian Straudi (1)
Assisted By: Arnau Farnos
GOAL by OSU Straudi, Fabian Assist by Farnos, Arnau.
00:37
Ellis Spikner (3)
Assisted By: Logan Farrington
GOAL by OSU Spikner, Ellis Assist by Farrington, Logan.
48:47
Jack Sarkos (8)
GOAL by UCL Sarkos, Jack.
60:03
Ryan Becher (4)
Assisted By: Jack Sarkos
GOAL by UCL Becher, Ryan Assist by Sarkos, Jack.
67:19
