UCLA
3-2-1, 0-0-0
UC Irvine
3-3-2, 0-0-0
UCLA Surges in Second Half in 4-0 Win at UC Irvine
September 23, 2023 | Men's Soccer
Irvine, Calif. – UCLA scored three goals early in the second half and ran away with a 4-0 victory at UC Irvine. The Bruins received goals from Andre Ochoa, Jack Sarkos, Tucker Lepley and Sean Karani in support of freshman goalkeeper Wyatt Nelson, who recorded the shutout in his first collegiate appearance.
After a scoreless first half, the Bruins (3-2-1) wasted no time in scoring in the second half. At 46:53, Jose Contell sent a cross into the box to Karani, whose touch found Ochoa in front of UC Irvine goalkeeper Luke Pruter. Ochoa backheeled a shot past Pruter into the back of the net for his second goal of the season.
The Bruins scored two goals in a three-minute span, scoring at 56:00 and 59:09 to increase their lead to 3-0 over the Anteaters (3-3-2). UCLA's second goal was set up by a long ball downfield by defender Owen Schwartz to Lepley, who crossed to Sarkos for the one-touch goal past an out-of-position Pruter. Sarkos' goal was his team-leading sixth of the season. Lepley scored goal number three for the Bruins on a penalty kick after Karani was fouled in the box on a goal-scoring opportunity. UCLA added a fourth goal late in the game. In the 88th minute, JC Cortez swung a ball into Karani in the box, and Karani one-timed it with his left past Pruter to the far post.
The score could have been even more lopsided had the Bruins not hit the woodwork twice in the second half. Lepley had a shot hit the right post in the 64th minute, and the rebound by Tarun Karumanchi was cleared off the line. In the 85th minute, Ryan Becher hit the crossbar, and the rebound bounced off Tre Wright's chest but saved by Pruter.
The two teams played a scoreless first half, with UCLA holding the better opportunities in the half. Contell had several dangerous plays, nearly scoring in the 10th minute after a corner kick, and again on a shot that went high in the 15th minute. In the final minute of the first half, Lepley found Contell on a breakaway opportunity, but Pruter made a save on Contell's shot to keep the score knotted at zero.
In his first career start in goal, Nelson recorded the shutout, making two saves on seven Anteater shots, including a nice stop on a shot by Juan Barragan-Manzo that was headed for the lower left corner in the 69th minute. UCLA finished the game with 19 shots, 11 of which were on goal.
The Bruins begin Pac-12 Conference play at home on Thursday, Sept. 28 against Stanford at 5pm.
Team Stats
Andre Ochoa (2)
Assisted By: Jose Contell , Sean Karani
up the right wing, 9 centers, in the mixer, 8 backheel
46:53
Jack Sarkos (6)
Assisted By: Tucker Lepley , Owen Schwartz
24 long ball, 10 right wing, 19 first time
56:00
Tucker Lepley
foul in box left wing, 10 finish right of keeper
59:09
Sean Karani (2)
Assisted By: JC Cortez , Kasper Strom
12 left sideline, 7 half volley from 10 yards
87:02
