Thursday, September 5
Los Angeles, CA
7 p.m. PT
UCLA
vs
Cal State Fullerton
No. 6 UCLA Hosts Cal State Fullerton Thursday
September 04, 2024 | Men's Soccer
No. 6 UCLA (2-0-1) vs. Cal State Fullerton (1-3-0 )
Thursday, Sept. 5, 2024 – 7 p.m. PT
Los Angeles, Calif. (Wallis Annenberg Stadium)
Media Information
Broadcast: B1G+
Talent: Nick Koop
Live Stats: uclalivestats.com
Ticket Information
Tickets: uclabruins.com/tickets
Price: $9-17 (UCLA students free with BruinCard)
Seating: General Admission
Parking: purchase in advance on Park Mobile app
UCLA Continues Homestand Against Cal State Fullerton
The No. 6 UCLA men's soccer team returns to Wallis Annenberg Stadium for their fourth game of the season on Thursday, welcoming Cal State Fullerton. The Titans head to Westwood having beaten Utah Tech 5-1 to earn their first win of the season.
UCLA Beats No. 8 Portland
The UCLA men's soccer team earned their third consecutive result against a ranked opponent on Friday night, taking down No. 8 Portland 2-0 at Wallis Annenberg Stadium. Freshman Tamir Ratoviz and Shakir Nixon provided the goals for the Bruins. Ratoviz tallied his first collegiate goal and opened the scoring in the 54th minute from a headed-down cross by Graduate Sveinn Hauksson and Nixon. Both Hauksson and Nixon recorded their first career collegiate assists as a result of Ratoviz's goal. Nixon scored in the 76th minute from on top of the penalty box which and floated over the Portland goalkeeper to put the Bruins up 2-0. After scoring a goal earlier in the night Ratoviz also assisted Nixon on the goal.
Bruins Draw With No. 18 JMU
UCLA kept a second consecutive clean sheet against a top-25 opponent on Sunday night, tying 0-0 with No. 18 James Madison University at Wallis Annenberg Stadium. Statistically, for UCLA Edrey Caceres, Sveinn Hauksson, and Andre Ochoa all tallied two shots, while sophomore goalkeeper Wyatt Nelson produced three saves. To begin the year the Bruins have now played 180 minutes without conceding a goal to begin the season. Nelson also produced the fourth clean sheet of his career in his first start for UCLA in 2024
Opening Night Win OVer No. 11 LMU
UCLA opened the 2024 season with a win over No. 11 LMU on Thursday night. Edrey Caceres provided both the goals for the Bruins, scoring two beautifully taken free kicks from just outside the 18 yard box. UCLA 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. As for the second goal, 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, and that's how the game would finish.
B1G Players of the Week
UCLA junior goalkeeper Sam Joseph and freshman defender Shakir Nixon have been named the Big Ten Men's Soccer Goalkeeper of the Week and Defensive Player of the Week, becoming the first Bruin men's soccer players ever to win a weekly award in the Big Ten Conference.
In UCLA's 2-0 win over No. 8 Portland, three Bruins tallied their first collegiate points. Graduate forward Sveinn Hauksson tallied his first career assist, while freshman Shakir Nixon and Tamir Ratoviz both scored their first collegiate goals, and provided their first collegiate assists.
Stout Defense
UCLA has not conceded a goal to begin the 2024 season. Over the course of three games, the Bruins have limited No. 11 LMU, No. 18 JMU, and most recently No. 8 Portland zero goals and to a combined seven shots on goal, while keepers Sam Joseph and Wyatt Nelson have recorded a combined three clean sheets.
Bruins in the NCAA Rankings
Bruin Debuts
Eight Bruins made either their collegiate debut or UCLA debut in the season opener against No. 11 LMU. Freshman Shakir Nixon and Tamir Ratoviz, and international graduate student Sveinn Hauksson all made their NCAA debuts. Additionally, Caceres, Nico Cavallo, Oshea Foster, Nikolai Rojel, and Youri Senden all made their UCLA debuts.
Last time out against Cal State Fullerton
UCLA and Cal State Fullerton last played in 2023, with the Titans taking the matchup 4-1. Andre Ochoa scored the only goal for the Bruins in the 18th minute of the game. UCLA leads the all-time series with the Titans 31-8-3.
Moving on Up
UCLA appeared in a pair of national polls after the second week of the season, climbing four spots in the United Soccer Coaches Poll to No. 6 in the nation, and checked in at No. 6 in the Top Drawer Soccer poll. The last time the Bruins were ranked higher in the national polls was on Aug. 30, 2022 when UCLA was ranked No. 4 in the country.
Tough Slate to Start
UCLA will host four opponents who are ranked in the United Soccer Coaches preseason poll this season, with the first three matches of the 2024 season coming against ranked opposition. The Bruins welcome No. 11 LMU on opening night on Aug. 22, followed by No. 18 James Madison University on Aug. 25, and No. 8 University of Portland on Aug. 30. Other ranked opponents the Bruins will face include No. 7 Indiana on Oct. 25 and No. 3 Denver on Sept. 9. That marks four of UCLA's six nonconference opponents are ranked to begin the season.
2023 In Review
The Bruins won the Pac-12 title for the first time since 2012
UCLA went 9-4-5 overall on the year, and 6-0-4 in conference play
The undefeated mark in conference play was the third time in the Pac-12 era that the Bruins had finished undefeated in conference play
The Bruins advanced to the Second Round of the NCAA Tournament for the third year in a row
UCLA allowed one goal or fewer in 14 of their 18 games during the 2023 season
The Bruins' 1.06 goals against average in 2023 was their third lowest average in the last 10 seasons, only the 2022 team (1.00 GAA) and 2014 (0.92 GAA) were lower
Tucker Lepley became the first Bruin to earn All-America honors since Milan Illoski did in 2019. Lepley earned third-team All-American honors from United Soccer Coaches, Top Drawer Soccer, and College Soccer News
Four Bruins earned All-Far-West Region honors. Lepley and Tommy Silva earned first-team honors, while Andre Ochoa and Jack Sarkos earned third-team honors
Lepley (1st Team), Jose Contell (2nd Team), Sarkos (2nd Team), Silva (2nd Team), Ochoa (HM), Sean Karani (HM) all were named to the Pac-12 All-Conference teams
16 different players recorded a point for UCLA, including nine separate goal scorers
Thursday, Sept. 5, 2024 – 7 p.m. PT
Los Angeles, Calif. (Wallis Annenberg Stadium)
Media Information
Broadcast: B1G+
Talent: Nick Koop
Live Stats: uclalivestats.com
Ticket Information
Tickets: uclabruins.com/tickets
Price: $9-17 (UCLA students free with BruinCard)
Seating: General Admission
Parking: purchase in advance on Park Mobile app
UCLA Continues Homestand Against Cal State Fullerton
The No. 6 UCLA men's soccer team returns to Wallis Annenberg Stadium for their fourth game of the season on Thursday, welcoming Cal State Fullerton. The Titans head to Westwood having beaten Utah Tech 5-1 to earn their first win of the season.
UCLA Beats No. 8 Portland
The UCLA men's soccer team earned their third consecutive result against a ranked opponent on Friday night, taking down No. 8 Portland 2-0 at Wallis Annenberg Stadium. Freshman Tamir Ratoviz and Shakir Nixon provided the goals for the Bruins. Ratoviz tallied his first collegiate goal and opened the scoring in the 54th minute from a headed-down cross by Graduate Sveinn Hauksson and Nixon. Both Hauksson and Nixon recorded their first career collegiate assists as a result of Ratoviz's goal. Nixon scored in the 76th minute from on top of the penalty box which and floated over the Portland goalkeeper to put the Bruins up 2-0. After scoring a goal earlier in the night Ratoviz also assisted Nixon on the goal.
Bruins Draw With No. 18 JMU
UCLA kept a second consecutive clean sheet against a top-25 opponent on Sunday night, tying 0-0 with No. 18 James Madison University at Wallis Annenberg Stadium. Statistically, for UCLA Edrey Caceres, Sveinn Hauksson, and Andre Ochoa all tallied two shots, while sophomore goalkeeper Wyatt Nelson produced three saves. To begin the year the Bruins have now played 180 minutes without conceding a goal to begin the season. Nelson also produced the fourth clean sheet of his career in his first start for UCLA in 2024
Opening Night Win OVer No. 11 LMU
UCLA opened the 2024 season with a win over No. 11 LMU on Thursday night. Edrey Caceres provided both the goals for the Bruins, scoring two beautifully taken free kicks from just outside the 18 yard box. UCLA 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. As for the second goal, 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, and that's how the game would finish.
B1G Players of the Week
UCLA junior goalkeeper Sam Joseph and freshman defender Shakir Nixon have been named the Big Ten Men's Soccer Goalkeeper of the Week and Defensive Player of the Week, becoming the first Bruin men's soccer players ever to win a weekly award in the Big Ten Conference.
- Sam Joseph (San Diego, Calif.) earns his first career conference accolades for his display in goal for the Bruins in the 2-0 win over No. 8 Portland. The junior earned his second start of the campaign and produced three top-notch saves to secure the clean sheet. Playing all 90 minutes for the second time this season, Joseph recorded his second consecutive shutout, after also not conceding a goal in UCLA's 2-0 win over No. 11 LMU to open the season.
- Shakir Nixon (Cerritos, Calif.) tallied his first three collegiate points on Friday night over 52 minutes of action off the bench, helping No. 10 UCLA take down No. 8 Portland 2-0. The freshman scored the second goal for the Bruins in the win over the Pilots in the 76th minute of the match, putting UCLA up 2-0. Nixon also recorded the first assist of his collegiate career on the Bruins' first goal, setting up fellow freshman Tamir Ratoviz in the 54th minute, which put UCLA up at the time 1-0.
In UCLA's 2-0 win over No. 8 Portland, three Bruins tallied their first collegiate points. Graduate forward Sveinn Hauksson tallied his first career assist, while freshman Shakir Nixon and Tamir Ratoviz both scored their first collegiate goals, and provided their first collegiate assists.
Stout Defense
UCLA has not conceded a goal to begin the 2024 season. Over the course of three games, the Bruins have limited No. 11 LMU, No. 18 JMU, and most recently No. 8 Portland zero goals and to a combined seven shots on goal, while keepers Sam Joseph and Wyatt Nelson have recorded a combined three clean sheets.
- UCLA is one of eight teams in the country who have recorded three or more shutouts
- UCLA is one of seven schools who boast a 1.000 save percentage
- UCLA is one of seven teams who have a goals against average of 0.000
Bruins in the NCAA Rankings
- Save Percentage: 1st - 1.000
- Shutout percentage: 1st
- Goals Against Average: 1st - 0.000
Bruin Debuts
Eight Bruins made either their collegiate debut or UCLA debut in the season opener against No. 11 LMU. Freshman Shakir Nixon and Tamir Ratoviz, and international graduate student Sveinn Hauksson all made their NCAA debuts. Additionally, Caceres, Nico Cavallo, Oshea Foster, Nikolai Rojel, and Youri Senden all made their UCLA debuts.
Last time out against Cal State Fullerton
UCLA and Cal State Fullerton last played in 2023, with the Titans taking the matchup 4-1. Andre Ochoa scored the only goal for the Bruins in the 18th minute of the game. UCLA leads the all-time series with the Titans 31-8-3.
Moving on Up
UCLA appeared in a pair of national polls after the second week of the season, climbing four spots in the United Soccer Coaches Poll to No. 6 in the nation, and checked in at No. 6 in the Top Drawer Soccer poll. The last time the Bruins were ranked higher in the national polls was on Aug. 30, 2022 when UCLA was ranked No. 4 in the country.
Tough Slate to Start
UCLA will host four opponents who are ranked in the United Soccer Coaches preseason poll this season, with the first three matches of the 2024 season coming against ranked opposition. The Bruins welcome No. 11 LMU on opening night on Aug. 22, followed by No. 18 James Madison University on Aug. 25, and No. 8 University of Portland on Aug. 30. Other ranked opponents the Bruins will face include No. 7 Indiana on Oct. 25 and No. 3 Denver on Sept. 9. That marks four of UCLA's six nonconference opponents are ranked to begin the season.
2023 In Review
The Bruins won the Pac-12 title for the first time since 2012
UCLA went 9-4-5 overall on the year, and 6-0-4 in conference play
The undefeated mark in conference play was the third time in the Pac-12 era that the Bruins had finished undefeated in conference play
The Bruins advanced to the Second Round of the NCAA Tournament for the third year in a row
UCLA allowed one goal or fewer in 14 of their 18 games during the 2023 season
The Bruins' 1.06 goals against average in 2023 was their third lowest average in the last 10 seasons, only the 2022 team (1.00 GAA) and 2014 (0.92 GAA) were lower
Tucker Lepley became the first Bruin to earn All-America honors since Milan Illoski did in 2019. Lepley earned third-team All-American honors from United Soccer Coaches, Top Drawer Soccer, and College Soccer News
Four Bruins earned All-Far-West Region honors. Lepley and Tommy Silva earned first-team honors, while Andre Ochoa and Jack Sarkos earned third-team honors
Lepley (1st Team), Jose Contell (2nd Team), Sarkos (2nd Team), Silva (2nd Team), Ochoa (HM), Sean Karani (HM) all were named to the Pac-12 All-Conference teams
16 different players recorded a point for UCLA, including nine separate goal scorers
Players Mentioned
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