Saturday, September 23
Irvine, CA
6:00 PM
UCLA
at
UC Irvine
Owen Schwartz (photo: Ross Turteltaub)
Photo by: Ross Turteltaub
Bruins Return to Orange County to Face UC Irvine
September 20, 2023 | Men's Soccer
UCLA (2-2-1) at UC Irvine (3-2-2)
Date/Time: Saturday, Sept. 23 - 6:00 p.m. (PT)
Location: Irvine, Calif. (Anteater Stadium)
Stream: ESPN+
Live Stats
UCLA Faces UC Irvine on the Road in Final Game Before Pac-12 Play
This weekend, the UCLA men's soccer team (2-2-1) plays its final game before the start of Pac-12 play, heading south to face Big West-member UC Irvine (3-2-2) on Saturday, Sept. 23, at 6:00 p.m. This weekend marks the Bruins' second trip to Orange County to face a Big West squad in as many weeks. The contest will be streamed live through ESPN+, and fans can also follow along with live stats at uclabruins.com and live tweets from @UCLAMSoccer.
Quick Hits
UCLA dropped a 4-1 road decision at Cal State Fullerton last Sunday in the team's lone game of the week. The Bruins had to play behind for the majority of the contest after a turnover in the defensive third led to a second-minute goal for the hosts. UCLA and CSF went on to trade goals just before the 20-minute mark of the game, but that was as close as UCLA would get, as the Titans netted a pair of second-half goals. Andre Ochoa redirected a low Jose Contell cross from the right wing for the Bruins' lone goal, equalizing the score in the 18th minute. UCLA had the better of possession in the late-first and early-second halves, but couldn't capitalize on a few Grade-A scoring chances before CSF pushed the lead to two in the 72nd. UCLA had to finish the game a man down after an 81st minute red card, and CSF's Roberto Ordonez completed a brace in the 85th minute to cap the scoring.
Sark Attack
UCLA graduate forward Jack Sarkos has been on a tear to open the season, scoring a team-high five goals over the first five games of the year. His 1.00 goals per game rate co-leads the Pac-12 and trails only one player (Lipscomb's Tyrese Spicer, 1.20) 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 recorded a 1-0 win at home over UCI on Aug. 25 of last year in the opening game of the 2022 campaign for both teams. Then-senior Kevin Diaz provided the game's lone goal in the 52nd minute, and UCLA went on to hold the Anteaters without a shot on goal for the entirety of the contest. Overall, UCLA outshot UCI 12-5 and had a solid advantage in time of possession. Diaz's score came off a corner, with then-senior Jose Sosa finding him inside the six-yard box for a wide-open header. The Anteaters mustered just five shot attempts over the full 90, none of which went on frame. Current Bruin regulars to appear in that game include Tommy Silva (90 minutes), Tarun Karumanchi (90), Andre Ochoa (77), Grayson Doody (90), and Jose Contell (59).
The All-Time Series Against the Anteaters
UCLA owns an 18-3-1 record all-time against UC Irvine. The Bruins enter a contest with a two-game winning streak and four-game unbeaten streak against the Anteaters. UCLA has faced UCI often under fifth-year head coach Ryan Jorden, as this will be the fourth meeting between the two in his tenure (UCLA has gone 2-0-1 in the previous three matchups). The Bruins have claimed 1-0 victories in each of the last two meetings with the Anteaters.
Take Your Shot
The Bruins have tallied double-digit shots in each of their first five games to start the season, including a season-high 18 shot attempts on three separate occasions (UCLA went 2-0-1 in those games). It marks just the second time in the last five years that the Bruins have had 10+ shots in five consecutive games (last: Oct. 8 to Nov. 4, 2021). The Bruins enter the weekend with the No. 2 shot rate in the Pac-12 and No. 19 in the nation.
Date/Time: Saturday, Sept. 23 - 6:00 p.m. (PT)
Location: Irvine, Calif. (Anteater Stadium)
Stream: ESPN+
Live Stats
UCLA Faces UC Irvine on the Road in Final Game Before Pac-12 Play
This weekend, the UCLA men's soccer team (2-2-1) plays its final game before the start of Pac-12 play, heading south to face Big West-member UC Irvine (3-2-2) on Saturday, Sept. 23, at 6:00 p.m. This weekend marks the Bruins' second trip to Orange County to face a Big West squad in as many weeks. The contest will be streamed live through ESPN+, and fans can also follow along with live stats at uclabruins.com and live tweets from @UCLAMSoccer.
Quick Hits
- UCLA is 2-2-1 through its first five games of the season, with wins coming against Virginia Tech and Rutgers
- The Bruins pace the Pac-12 in saves per game (4.40) and fewest fouls per game (9.60)
- Jack Sarkos enters the weekend as one of nine players in the nation averaging a goal per game or better
- 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 20 games
- Four of UCLA's five goal scorers this season had not previously recorded a goal as Bruins (Ochoa the exception)
- 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 0-2-0 when conceding first
UCLA dropped a 4-1 road decision at Cal State Fullerton last Sunday in the team's lone game of the week. The Bruins had to play behind for the majority of the contest after a turnover in the defensive third led to a second-minute goal for the hosts. UCLA and CSF went on to trade goals just before the 20-minute mark of the game, but that was as close as UCLA would get, as the Titans netted a pair of second-half goals. Andre Ochoa redirected a low Jose Contell cross from the right wing for the Bruins' lone goal, equalizing the score in the 18th minute. UCLA had the better of possession in the late-first and early-second halves, but couldn't capitalize on a few Grade-A scoring chances before CSF pushed the lead to two in the 72nd. UCLA had to finish the game a man down after an 81st minute red card, and CSF's Roberto Ordonez completed a brace in the 85th minute to cap the scoring.
Sark Attack
UCLA graduate forward Jack Sarkos has been on a tear to open the season, scoring a team-high five goals over the first five games of the year. His 1.00 goals per game rate co-leads the Pac-12 and trails only one player (Lipscomb's Tyrese Spicer, 1.20) 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 - 2.40 (4th in Pac-12 / 14th in NCAA)
- Shots Per Game - 15.60 (2nd in Pac-12 / 19th in NCAA)
- Points Per Game - 6.40 (4th in Pac-12 / 25th in NCAA)
- Fewest Fouls Per Game - 9.60 (1st in Pac-12 / 29th in NCAA)
- Goals Per Game - 2.00 (4th in Pac-12 / 29th in NCAA)
- Saves Per Game - 4.40 (1st in Pac-12 / 39th in NCAA)
UCLA recorded a 1-0 win at home over UCI on Aug. 25 of last year in the opening game of the 2022 campaign for both teams. Then-senior Kevin Diaz provided the game's lone goal in the 52nd minute, and UCLA went on to hold the Anteaters without a shot on goal for the entirety of the contest. Overall, UCLA outshot UCI 12-5 and had a solid advantage in time of possession. Diaz's score came off a corner, with then-senior Jose Sosa finding him inside the six-yard box for a wide-open header. The Anteaters mustered just five shot attempts over the full 90, none of which went on frame. Current Bruin regulars to appear in that game include Tommy Silva (90 minutes), Tarun Karumanchi (90), Andre Ochoa (77), Grayson Doody (90), and Jose Contell (59).
The All-Time Series Against the Anteaters
UCLA owns an 18-3-1 record all-time against UC Irvine. The Bruins enter a contest with a two-game winning streak and four-game unbeaten streak against the Anteaters. UCLA has faced UCI often under fifth-year head coach Ryan Jorden, as this will be the fourth meeting between the two in his tenure (UCLA has gone 2-0-1 in the previous three matchups). The Bruins have claimed 1-0 victories in each of the last two meetings with the Anteaters.
Take Your Shot
The Bruins have tallied double-digit shots in each of their first five games to start the season, including a season-high 18 shot attempts on three separate occasions (UCLA went 2-0-1 in those games). It marks just the second time in the last five years that the Bruins have had 10+ shots in five consecutive games (last: Oct. 8 to Nov. 4, 2021). The Bruins enter the weekend with the No. 2 shot rate in the Pac-12 and No. 19 in the nation.
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