UCLA Returns to Wallis Annenberg Stadium, Hosts SDSU

UCLA (6-4-0, 2-2-0) vs. San Diego State (6-2-2, 2-2-0)
Date/Time: Friday, Oct. 8 - 7:00 p.m. (PT)
Location: Los Angeles, Calif. (Wallis Annenberg Stadium)
Stream: Pac-12.com / Pac-12 Now app
Stream Talent: Steve Granado
Live Stats

UCLA Hosts San Diego State in Pac-12 Tilt
After spending last week in the Pacific Northwest, the UCLA men's soccer team (6-4-0, 2-2-0) returns to Wallis Annenberg Stadium to host San Diego State (6-2-2, 2-2-0) on Friday night at 7:00 p.m. The contest will be streamed live on Pac-12.com/live and Pac-12 Insider (available on Roku, Sling, etc.). Fans can also follow along with live stats on uclalivestats.com and live updates via the team Twitter account, @UCLAMSoccer. 

Quick Hits

• UCLA has won six of its last nine games, including a pair of three-game winning streaks
• For the season, UCLA is outscoring its opponents 18-12 and outshooting them 100-90
• Eight of UCLA's 10 games this season have been decided by one goal
• The Bruins are 6-1 when scoring first, and 0-3 when the opponent scores first 

Garces Good With the Gloves
Justin Garces's seven saves against Washington on Oct. 3 were tied for the second-most single-game saves of his career. The four-year starter has had at least seven saves in three separate games as a Bruin, last occuring when he made a career-high 10 stops against California on Halloween during the 2019 campaign. 

Diaz On a Roll
Senior F Kevin Diaz has recorded a point in each of UCLA's last five games, amassing four goals and two assists for 10 points over that span. He's the first Bruin to do either since Milan Iloski opened the 2019 campaign with 16 points in five games (he led the NCAA in goals per game that year at 1.06). Diaz had never scored a goal in back-to-back games before his current three-game streak, and his previous career-long points streak was two games. His four goals on the year co-lead the Pac-12.

Hitting Pay Dirt
UCLA scored multiple goals in four consecutive games before being limited to a single goal at No. 2 Washington on Oct. 3. It was the first time the Bruins scored multiple goals in four consecutive games since Oct. 25 to Nov. 8, 2015. UCLA has scored at least one goal in all but one game so far this season.

On The Mark
So far this season, the Bruins have shown themselves to be adept at getting their shot attempts on target, with 51 of the team's 100 shots going on frame. UCLA's 51% shot accuracy as a team paces the Pac-12 Conference and ranks sixth in the country. 

The Series Against San Diego State
The Bruins own a 44-7-15 record all-time against San Diego State, including a 19-4-9 mark since the Aztecs joined the Pac-12 Conference as an affiliate for men's soccer in 2005. UCLA has won or split the series in all but one year (2007) since 2005, and carries a four-game unbeaten streak against SDSU into Friday's game. 

Last Season Against San Diego State
UCLA and San Diego State battled to a tie in both matchups during the spring 2021 season, 1-1 at UCLA on Feb. 20 and 2-2 at SDSU on Mar. 24. Ollie de Visser scored a highlight-reel goal (the first of his career) in the 73rd minute to open the scoring in the home contest. The Bruins had to settle for the tie despite dominating the away contest, notching 25 shots and amassing a 16-0 advantage in corner kicks. Tommy Silva and Kevin Diaz found the back of the net to help the Bruins eliminate a 2-0 deficit in the game at SDSU. 

Bruins Barrage SDSU in Previous Matchup
UCLA's shot ouput in its last matchup with SDSU was one of the most prolific in the modern history of the program. The Bruins' 25 shots were their most in a single game since Oct. 8, 2013 vs. Oregon State, and their 22 shots in regulation were their most since the 2015 season. In addition, UCLA had a 16-0 advantage in corners against SDSU, just the second time in the last 15 years that UCLA had double-digit corners and its opponent had zero. 

The Week In Review
The Bruins went 0-2-0 in a pair of road Pac-12 contests last week. UCLA was playing just its second and third road games of the season. UCLA held leads over both No. 15 Oregon State and No. 2 Washington, but the home team rallied in the second half of both contests to take the win. Kevin Diaz was the clear offensive star for the Bruins, figuring in all three of the team's goals against the Beavers and notching UCLA's lone score against the Huskies. Senior goalie Justin Garces recorded a new season-high for saves in both games, making four stops against OSU before responding with seven against Washington. 

Slippery Silva
With four goals on the season, UCLA's Tommy Silva is tied atop the Pac-12 leaderboard for goalscoring. He has led or co-led the conference in goals ever since notching his first career brace, on Sept. 6 against CSUN. Silva also paces the Pac-12 in game-winning goals with three. The Tucson, Ariz. native has six goals and 17 points over 22 career games at UCLA. 

Limiting Chances
UCLA held its opponent to single-digit shots in each of the first eight games of the season before Oregon State broke up that streak last Thursday night. The Bruins have still allowed two shots on goal or fewer in over half of their games (6-10, 60%) and have conceded more than five SOGs just twice.