UCLA Edged Out at No. 15 LMU, 1-0
LOS ANGELES – The UCLA men's soccer team absorbed a 1-0 loss on the road to No. 15 Loyola Marymount on Friday night at Sullivan Field.
The Bruins, who were playing their first road game of the year, dropped to 1-1-0 on the season with the loss. UCLA had previously opened the campaign with a 3-0 triumph over San Francisco on Monday afternoon at Wallis Annenberg Stadium.
The Lions were playing their 2020-21 season opener.
LMU's Ronaldo Brown scored the game's lone goal, putting his team on the board in the 31st minute. The junior forward got his head on a cross that came from the left wing via Narciso Cervantes, re-directing it inside the far post.
UCLA had its best chance to equalize in the 87th minute, on a free kick from about 35 yards out slightly to the keeper's right.
With freshman defender Tommy Silva also standing over the ball, junior forward Kevin Diaz stepped up and curled a left-footed strike to the upper-left corner of the net. However, LMU keeper Jacob Jackson came across and made a diving swat with his left hand to deny the goal-bound shot.
Junior goalkeeper Justin Garces made five saves for the Bruins on Friday. Highlights included a two-save stretch in the 22nd minute – he first pushed aside a long Cervantes shot before making a close-range stop on a rebound attempt – and another close-range effort at the outset of the second half.
UCLA returns to Wallis Annenberg Stadium for a pair of games next week, welcoming Westmont on the night of Tuesday, Feb. 16 before opening Pac-12 action against San Diego State on Saturday, Feb. 20. Both contests are scheduled for 6:00 p.m. starts.