UCLA Wins Pac-12 Opener, 2-1, at Arizona
Tucson, Ariz. – No. 4 UCLA won its Pac-12 opener on Friday evening, handing Arizona its first loss of the season, 2-1. Delanie Sheehan and Mia Fishel scored first half goals to give the Bruins the winning margin.
Both teams came out firing, with UCLA defender Brianne Riley making a key defensive stop early in the game to keep the Wildcats off the board. In the sixth minute, Reilyn Turner fired a shot from the right side that was saved at the near post by Arizona goalkeeper Hope Hisey. Fishel also had a shot that went just wide in the 17th minute.
Sheehan put UCLA on the board first at 18:09 when she plowed through the central defense into the box. A Wildcat defender got a foot on the ball, but it took a fortuitous bounce, and Sheehan was able to control and fire a shot past Hisey for her first goal of the season.
A little pinball action benefiting @DelanieSheehan and the Bruins on the game's first goal. #GoBruins pic.twitter.com/CgUMdkHGW1
— UCLA Women's Soccer (@UCLAWSoccer) February 27, 2021
Arizona (4-1, 0-1 in the Pac-12) quickly tied it up a little less than two minutes later on a clean give-and-go between Madison Goerlinger and Jill Aguilar. But the Bruins bounced back in the 27th minute after Fishel pounced on a weak clearance in the box and scored what would eventually be the winning goal.
Always hustling. @miafishel10 reels in her second goal of the season and gives UCLA the 2-1 lead.#GoBruins pic.twitter.com/nBUR6NHmVC
— UCLA Women's Soccer (@UCLAWSoccer) February 27, 2021
UCLA (4-0, 1-0) received a strong defensive effort from center backs Riley and Lucy Parker, who snuffed out several Wildcat chances. Arizona had two good looks at goal in the final three minutes but were unable to capitalize, shooting wide.
The Bruins will be home next week to face Oregon on Mar. 5 and Oregon State on Mar. 7 at Wallis Annenberg Stadium.