UCLA Hosts San Francisco in Televised Showdown

UCLA (0-1-0) vs. San Francisco (1-0-0)
Date/Time: Sunday, Aug. 29 - 3:00 p.m. (PT)
Location: Los Angeles, Calif. (Wallis Annenberg Stadium)
TV: Pac-12 Networks
TV Talent: Christian Miles
Stream: Pac-12.com / Pac-12 Now app
Audio Broadcast
Audio Talent: Nick Koop
Live Stats

UCLA Set to Face San Francisco on the Pac-12 Networks
The UCLA men's soccer team, which is in a stretch of playing seven-of-eight games at home to start the season, continues the homestand on Sunday afternoon with a 3:00 p.m. showdown against San Francisco. The contest will be televised live on the Pac-12 Networks and can be streamed on Pac-12.com/live or through the Pac-12 Now app. Fans can also follow along with a live audio broadcast - Nick Koop will have the call on UCLA.leanplayer.com - as well as live stats on UCLAlivestats.com and live updates on the team Twitter account, @UCLAMSoccer. 

The Series Against San Francisco
The Bruins own a 25-19-5 all-time record against San Francisco. The two teams have matched up in three of the last four seasons, with UCLA taking wins in 2017 and spring 2021, and the Dons pulling out a victory in 2019. USF has the record for the most single-game goals by a UCLA opponent, notching six scores in a 1971 matchup. 

Last Time Out Against San Francisco
The Bruins and Dons faced off on Opening Day in the spring 2021 season, with UCLA coming away with a 3-0 win. Ben Reveno scored in the 10th minute off a corner kick to net the game-winner for the Bruins, who put the game away on late goals from Pablo Greenlee (72') and Riley Ferch (88'). The pair of goals capped off a strong second half for the Bruins, with Greenlee heading in a Kevin Diaz cross and Riley Ferch sniping the top-left corner in the closing minutes of the game. UCLA outshot USF 13-6, and limited the visiting Dons to two shots on goal. 

Welcome Back
The 2021 iteration of the Bruins features plenty of continuity from this spring's squad. UCLA returns from the 2020-21 team:

• 10 of 11 starters
• 20 of 25 players
• 16 of 21 letterwinners
• All eight goalscorers
• 10 of 12 players who recorded a point, including the top-eight scorers by points

Preseason Recap
UCLA went 2-0-0 in its two preseason exhibition games, opening up with a 3-0 triumph over NAIA-member Westmont before downing Cal Poly by a score of 1-0 this past Saturday. Both games were at home. The Bruins posted clean sheets in both games, outscored their opponents 4-0 on aggregate, and outshot them 28-6. UCLA took control early against the Warriors, taking a 2-0 lead within 16 minutes thanks to early goals from Jose Contell and Grayson Doody. Riley Ferch added a second-half tally to finish off a team-high three-point night, and UCLA ended the contest with a 20-1 shot advantage. Ollie de Visser's second-half goal was the difference-maker in a tight, physical contest with the Mustangs (each team had just one shot through the first 45 minutes). Goal descriptions:

• Contell vs. Westmont (6') - From the left wing, Tommy Silva plays a low ball across the box. Contell gets his foot on the ball while spinning 360 degrees near the six-yard box, rolling it past the keeper.
• Doody vs. Westmont (16') - An attacking sequence led to Ferch winning a loose ball at the top of the 18. With two nearby defenders drawn to the loose ball, Ferch laid off a pass to the right for Doody who finished near post. 
• Ferch vs. Westmont (48') - A quick counter and a couple of slick first-time passes led to Ferch receiving the ball atop the 18 with plenty of space. He took his time before slipping a shot past the charging keeper. 
• de Visser vs. Cal Poly (47') - From the left wing near the end line, Constantinos Michaelides sent in a low pass to the box, where de Visser met it near the penalty spot and re-directed it with his right foot inside the far post. 

Top Returners
UCLA's 2021 lineup is anchored by three All-Pac-12 talents in junior midfielder RIley Ferch, senior center back Ahmed Longmire, and sophomore left back Tommy Silva. Ferch was an all-league second pick in 2019 after co-leading the conference and tying a UCLA freshman record with 11 assists. He went on to co-lead the team with nine points in spring 2021 (three goals, three assists). Longmire was a second team pick this spring after leading the UCLA defensive corps, while Silva earned an honorable mention with a two-goal, three-assist freshman campaign. Forwards Grayson Doody (3-1-7) and Kevin Diaz (2-2-6) both registered multi-goal campaigns this spring as well. 

Lights, Camera, Bruins
The Bruins are currently scheduled to have nine games this season televised on the Pac-12 Networks. UCLA's slate of TV games starts this Sunday with a 3:00 p.m. PT home matchup against San Francisco.