Thursday, August 22
Wallis Annenberg Stadium
7 p.m. PT
UCLA
1-0-0, 0-0-0
2
vs
0
No. 11 LMU
0-1-0, 0-0-0
1
2
F
LMU (CA)
0
0
0
UCLA
2
0
2
Photo by: Ross Turteltaub
No. 21 UCLA Takes Down No. 11 LMU 2-0 on Opening Night
August 22, 2024 | Men's Soccer
LOS ANGELES – The No. 21 UCLA men's soccer program opened the 2024 season with a 2-0 win over No. 11 LMU at Wallis Annenberg Stadium on Thursday night. Graduate transfer Edrey Caceres scored both goals for the Bruins.
The Bruins doubled the Lions in the shots category, taking 14 to LMU's seven on the night. UCLA's Cam Wilkerson led all players with four shots.
UCLA started the match brightly, with a lineup that featured four newcomers in the starting 11. Transfers Youri Senden, Nico Cavallo, Sveinn Hauksson and Caceres all started for the Bruins.
In the first 10 minutes the Bruins had multiple great opportunities to open the scoring. Andre Ochoa, in particular, was lively for UCLA and looked to have found the back of the net to put the Bruins ahead, but the goal was disallowed for offsides in the buildup in the 18th minute.
Nine minutes later the Bruins found the opening goal in the 27th minute. After a handball just outside the 18 yard box on LMU, Caceres stood over the ball to take the ensuing free kick. Caceres lined up the shot and lifted the ball over the LMU wall, past the outstretched arms of the keeper, and put the Bruins up 1-0.
UCLA continued to pile on the pressure in search of a second goal in the final fifteen minutes of the first half. Both Hauksson and Nikolai Rojel had chances but could not find the back of the net. But then Caceres struck again in the 45th minute.
Just five seconds before the end of the first half, the Bruins had a free kick in almost the same spot where Caceres scored from the first time. It was almost a déjà vu moment as Caceres placed his second free kick of the game perfectly, directing it over the LMU wall, past the diving keeper, and into the back of the net, making it 2-0 UCLA going into halftime.
With his second goal of the night, Caceres secured his third career brace, and first as a Bruin.
The second half was a different story as both teams looked for different opportunities to break down their opponent. Neither team attempted a shot in the first 14 minutes of the second half before Wilkerson had his attempt blocked in the 59th minute.
Rojel also had a great opportunity in the 61st minute, but his shot went just wide of the post, and UCLA led 2-0 with just under a half hour to play.
The Bruins shut things down defensively the remainder of the game, only allowing two shots in the final 30 minutes of action, with neither troubling Sam Joseph in goal for the Bruins and UCLA earned a 2-0 win to open the 2024 season.
Up Next: UCLA continues its five-game homestand to begin the season on Sunday, August 26, against No. 18 James Madison. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. PT and can be seen on B1G+.
Game Notes:
The Bruins doubled the Lions in the shots category, taking 14 to LMU's seven on the night. UCLA's Cam Wilkerson led all players with four shots.
UCLA started the match brightly, with a lineup that featured four newcomers in the starting 11. Transfers Youri Senden, Nico Cavallo, Sveinn Hauksson and Caceres all started for the Bruins.
In the first 10 minutes the Bruins had multiple great opportunities to open the scoring. Andre Ochoa, in particular, was lively for UCLA and looked to have found the back of the net to put the Bruins ahead, but the goal was disallowed for offsides in the buildup in the 18th minute.
Nine minutes later the Bruins found the opening goal in the 27th minute. After a handball just outside the 18 yard box on LMU, Caceres stood over the ball to take the ensuing free kick. Caceres lined up the shot and lifted the ball over the LMU wall, past the outstretched arms of the keeper, and put the Bruins up 1-0.
TAKE A BOW, EDREY??
— UCLA Men's Soccer (@UCLAMSoccer) August 23, 2024
What a way to open your account as a Bruin.
??: B1G+#GoBruins pic.twitter.com/KyE7YabRP7
UCLA continued to pile on the pressure in search of a second goal in the final fifteen minutes of the first half. Both Hauksson and Nikolai Rojel had chances but could not find the back of the net. But then Caceres struck again in the 45th minute.
Just five seconds before the end of the first half, the Bruins had a free kick in almost the same spot where Caceres scored from the first time. It was almost a déjà vu moment as Caceres placed his second free kick of the game perfectly, directing it over the LMU wall, past the diving keeper, and into the back of the net, making it 2-0 UCLA going into halftime.
Ready, aim, FIRE ??
— Big Ten Soccer (@B1GSoccer) August 23, 2024
Edrey Caceres adds one on a free kick!#B1GMSoccer x @UCLAMSoccer pic.twitter.com/PQeLsrjHkv
With his second goal of the night, Caceres secured his third career brace, and first as a Bruin.
The second half was a different story as both teams looked for different opportunities to break down their opponent. Neither team attempted a shot in the first 14 minutes of the second half before Wilkerson had his attempt blocked in the 59th minute.
Rojel also had a great opportunity in the 61st minute, but his shot went just wide of the post, and UCLA led 2-0 with just under a half hour to play.
The Bruins shut things down defensively the remainder of the game, only allowing two shots in the final 30 minutes of action, with neither troubling Sam Joseph in goal for the Bruins and UCLA earned a 2-0 win to open the 2024 season.
Up Next: UCLA continues its five-game homestand to begin the season on Sunday, August 26, against No. 18 James Madison. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. PT and can be seen on B1G+.
Game Notes:
- Three Bruins, Sveinn Hauksson, Shakir Nixon and Tamir Ratoviz, made their collegiate debut on Thursday.
- Five Bruins, Edrey Caceres, Nico Cavallo, Oshea Foster, Nikolai Rojel, and Youri Senden, made their UCLA debuts on Thursday.
- Caceres' brace was the third of his career.
- Sam Joseph recorded his third career clean sheet.
Team Stats
LMU
UCLA
Goals
0
2
Shots
7
14
Shots on Goal
1
4
Saves
2
1
Corners
3
6
Fouls
10
10
Scoring Plays
Edrey Caceres (2)
GOAL by UCLA Caceres, Edrey.
26:05
Edrey Caceres (2)
GOAL by UCLA Caceres, Edrey.
44:54
Game Leaders
Players
Shots
3
SOG
2
Goals
2
Assists
0
Shots
4
SOG
0
Goals
0
Assists
0
Shots
2
SOG
1
Goals
0
Assists
0
Shots
2
SOG
0
Goals
0
Assists
0
Players Mentioned
MF
/ Men's Soccer
D
/ Men's Soccer
F
/ Men's SoccerMF/F
/ Men's Soccer
GK
/ Men's Soccer
D
/ Men's Soccer
F
/ Men's Soccer
MF
/ Men's SoccerF
/ Men's Soccer
D
/ Men's Soccer
MF
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