Bruins Open Pac-12 Play Against Stanford, Cal

UCLA (3-2-0) vs. Stanford (2-1-1)
Date/Time: Thursday, Sept. 16 - 7:00 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 (3-2-0) vs. California (2-2-1)
Date/Time: Sunday, Sept. 19 - 6:00 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

Bruins Host Stanford, Cal to Open Pac-12 Play
This week, UCLA men's soccer opens conference play by hosting Bay Area rivals Stanford and Cal in a pair of Pac-12 Networks-televised contests. The Bruins first welcome the Cardinal on Thursday night at 7:00 p.m. before facing the Golden Bears on Sunday evening at 6:00 p.m. Christian Miles will have the call for both games. The games can be streamed on Pac-12.com/live and on the Pac-12 Now app. Fans can also follow along with live stats on uclalivestats.com and live updates via the team Twitter account, @UCLAMSoccer. 

Home Heavy
This week continues a stretch that sees UCLA play seven of its first eight games at home, and nine-of-10 if preseason exhibitions are included. The Bruins are scheduled to play just six regular season road games this year, including just one in non-conference competition (1-0 win at UC Irvine on Sept. 3). 

The Week In Review
The Bruins played just one game last week, dropping a close 1-0 decision to WCC-member Portland last Friday night at Wallis Annenberg Stadium. Portland took a first-half lead thanks to a 33rd minute half volley from Kevin Bonilla, and then mostly sat in as the Bruins tried to break them down the remainder of the contest (the Pilots didn't have a shot on goal after the Bonilla opener). Pietro Grassi had arguably UCLA's best chance to equalize, putting in a corner-bound header in the 84th minute off an Aaron Edwards cross that required a diving save from the Portland keeper. 

Quick Hits

• UCLA enters the week having won three of its last four games
• Over the last four games, the Bruins are outscoring their opponents 7-2 and outshooting them 40-25
• Four of UCLA's first five games have been decided by one goal
• The Bruins are 3-0 when scoring first, and 0-2 when the opponent scores first 

Holding Them Off
UCLA has allowed one goal or fewer in four consecutive games, a first for the program since the final four games of the 2018 season (Nov. 1-15, 2018). 

On The Mark
So far this season, the Bruins have shown themselves to be adept at getting their shot attempts on target, with 23 of the team's 46 shots going on frame. UCLA's 50% shot accuracy as a team paces the Pac-12 Conference and ranks 20th in the country. 

In The Polls
UCLA appeared at No. 9 in this week's United Soccer Coaches Far West Region poll, the second straight week the team appeared in those rankings. In the same poll, Stanford is ranked sixth and Cal is unranked. 

Off The Board
After holding both UC Irvine and CSUN without a goal earlier this month, the Bruins recorded back-to-back shutouts for the first time since Oct. 4 and 7, 2018 against Washington and Oregon State, respectively. 

Slippery Silva
After notching his first-career brace on Sept. 6 against CSUN, Tommy Silva moved atop the Pac-12 leaderboard for total goals. Entering the week, he's tied with Washington's Lucas Meek, Oregon State's Tyrone Mondi, and Cal's Jack Singer for the conference lead in total goals. Silva has five goals and 14 points over 17 career games at UCLA. 

The Series Against Stanford
The Bruins have posted a 44-17-10 record all-time against Stanford. However, UCLA is looking for its first win over the Cardinal since 2013. 

Last Time Out Against Stanford
The Bruins dropped a 3-0 decision at home to Stanford in the most-recent matchup between the two schools (Mar. 28, 2021). The Bruins had some scoring opportunities in the early portions of the game, but Stanford broke through for a pair of scores late in the first half. The comeback effort was made more difficult when AJ Vasquez was shown a red card for a 57th minute challenge. Then-freshman goalie Tyler Kirberg made his NCAA debut in the contest, making two saves over 22:26 minutes of shutout relief. 

Bruins Helping Bruins
The Bruins have compiled 10 individual assists to this point in the season on seven team goals. Entering the week, UCLA ranks second in the Pac-12 and 37th nationally in total assists. The Bruins have recorded two assists on almost all of their goals (five of seven). Eight separate players have tallied a helper for UCLA, including two apiece from Tucker Lepley and Jose Sosa. 

The Series Against Cal
UCLA owns a 46-20-7 record all-time against California. More recently, the Bruins have taken points in three-of-four contests against the Golden Bears under third-year head coach Ryan Jorden. The last three contests in the series have been high-scoring affairs, with both teams notching at least three goals in each game. 

Last Time Out Against Cal
UCLA ended the spring season on an upswing, winning two of their final three games including a signature 4-3 victory over California to end the campaign. That contest with the Golden Bears was a wild one, featuring three lead changes, a late equalizer by UCLA, and a highlight-reel golden goal from Tommy Silva to end it. The Bruins fell behind 1-0 after a 22nd minute marker by Cal, but quickly pulled ahead on scores from Ferch and Doody. Cal netted the next two goals, including a go-ahead score from Jack Singer in the 66th minute, but Doody sent it to extra time with his second goal of the game in the 86th minute. Silva ended it less than 90 seconds into double OT, capping off a wild sequence that saw Doody hit the post before Cal scrambled to block a pair of goal-bound UCLA shots. Silva first-timed a loose ball after the second shot, clanging it off the inside of the left post and in.