MADISON, Wisc. – The UCLA men's soccer team fell to No. 8 Wisconsin, 4-1 on Monday night. Nikolai Rojel scored the lone goal of the contest for the Bruins, who were playing their first game ever at Wisconsin.
Andre Ochoa forced a save from the Badgers keeper in the 15th minute, nearly putting the Bruins up early on. However, it was Wisconsin who tallied the first goal of the game in the 24th minute. Dean Boltz converted a cross from the right side of the 18-yard box, putting the Badgers up 1-0.
Sam Joseph made a big stop in the 29th minute to keep the game at 1-0, before the Badgers added a second goal two minutes later, as Kevin Andrews put the Badgers up a pair.
Joseph made another save in the 39th minute denying Boltz to keep the game at 2-0 in favor of Wisconsin, but the Badgers added a third in the 40th minute, and took a 3-0 lead into the halftime break. Joseph finished the night with a career-high nine saves.
Nikolai Rojel brought one back for the Bruins early in the second half, his second off the bench of the season. Philip Naef was played through down the right side before cutting inside in the box and taking a shot on goal, which was blocked off the line. The ball ricocheted back to Naef, who played the ball across to Rojel, who fired it into the back of the net, making it a 3-1 game with 40 minutes to play. As a result of the goal, Naef earned his first career collegiate assist.
The Bruins had a few more attempts come close, but could not find another goal on the night. Naef, Caceres, Ochoa, and Rojel all had efforts either blocked or saved by Wisconsin, keeping the score at 3-1 before the Badgers added a fourth goal in the 85th minute to take the win, 4-1.
Up Next: UCLA returns to Wallis Annenberg Stadium on Saturday, hosting No. 22 Michigan for UCLA's Big Ten Conference home opener. Kickoff is set for 3 p.m. PT.
Andre Ochoa forced a save from the Badgers keeper in the 15th minute, nearly putting the Bruins up early on. However, it was Wisconsin who tallied the first goal of the game in the 24th minute. Dean Boltz converted a cross from the right side of the 18-yard box, putting the Badgers up 1-0.
Sam Joseph made a big stop in the 29th minute to keep the game at 1-0, before the Badgers added a second goal two minutes later, as Kevin Andrews put the Badgers up a pair.
Joseph made another save in the 39th minute denying Boltz to keep the game at 2-0 in favor of Wisconsin, but the Badgers added a third in the 40th minute, and took a 3-0 lead into the halftime break. Joseph finished the night with a career-high nine saves.
Nikolai Rojel brought one back for the Bruins early in the second half, his second off the bench of the season. Philip Naef was played through down the right side before cutting inside in the box and taking a shot on goal, which was blocked off the line. The ball ricocheted back to Naef, who played the ball across to Rojel, who fired it into the back of the net, making it a 3-1 game with 40 minutes to play. As a result of the goal, Naef earned his first career collegiate assist.
The Bruins had a few more attempts come close, but could not find another goal on the night. Naef, Caceres, Ochoa, and Rojel all had efforts either blocked or saved by Wisconsin, keeping the score at 3-1 before the Badgers added a fourth goal in the 85th minute to take the win, 4-1.
Up Next: UCLA returns to Wallis Annenberg Stadium on Saturday, hosting No. 22 Michigan for UCLA's Big Ten Conference home opener. Kickoff is set for 3 p.m. PT.