UCLA
1-0-0, 0-0-0
Virginia Tech
0-1-0, 0-0-0
UCLA Fills the Net in 4-1 Opening Day Win Over Virginia Tech
August 24, 2023 | Men's Soccer
HARRISONBURG, Va. – The UCLA men's soccer scored three goals in the second half to pull away and record a 4-1 Opening Day win over Virginia Tech on Thursday afternoon at Sentara Park.
The contest served as the opener for the Fairfield by Marriott Invitational hosted by James Madison.
The Bruins' four goals were their most in a season-opener since downing Coastal Carolina by a score of 4-0 in 2018.
UCLA had three separate goal scorers on Thursday – led by a brace from graduate forward Jack Sarkos and single scores for sophomore midfielder Cam Wilkerson and graduate midfielder Ryan Becher – with all three notching their first goals as Bruins.
Wilkerson opened the game's scoring in the 44th minute, finishing off a ball from Tommy Silva just before the halftime whistle. UCLA had more than doubled up VT in the shot department in the opening half, testing keeper Connor Jordan-Hyde with 11 shot attempts (five on frame). Meanwhile, the Hokies mustered just one shot on goal in the opening 45 minutes.
The Bruins would go on to score three goals in the span of four minutes and 40 seconds early on in the second half to put the game on ice.
Becher got that sequence started with a goal in the 51st minute off a feed from senior forward Andre Ochoa.
Sarkos followed with a goal just over a minute later, with assists goings to Silva – his second of the game – and redshirt junior midfielder Tucker Lepley.
Sarkos, a graduate transfer from Lehigh, finished off his brace at the 54:53 mark, teaming up with Becher to make it 4-0 in UCLA's favor.
Virginia Tech would ultimately break through via Ethan Ballek in the 63rd minute to break up the shutout. UCLA keeper Sam Joseph ended up making six saves in the second half alone, and a career-high seven overall for the game.
Six different players registered a point for UCLA on Thursday, including multi-point efforts from Sarkos (2-0=4), Becher (1-1=3), Wilkerson (1-0=2), and Silva (0-2=2).
UCLA concludes its trip to the East Coast with a match against James Madison on Sunday at 4:00 p.m. PT. The game will be streamed live through ESPN+.
Team Stats
Cam Wilkerson (1)
Assisted By: Tommy Silva
GOAL by UCLA Wilkerson, Cam Assist by Silva, Tommy.
43:51
Ryan Becher (1)
Assisted By: Andre Ochoa
GOAL by UCLA Becher, Ryan Assist by Ochoa, Andre.
50:13
Jack Sarkos (2)
Assisted By: Tommy Silva , Tucker Lepley
GOAL by UCLA Sarkos, Jack Assist by Silva, Tommy and Lepley, Tucker.
51:29
Jack Sarkos (2)
Assisted By: Ryan Becher
GOAL by UCLA Sarkos, Jack Assist by Becher, Ryan.
54:53
Ethan Ballek (1)
Assisted By: Ben Fisher
GOAL by VT Ballek, Ethan Assist by Fisher, Ben.
62:07
