Bruins Open 2022 Season with 1-0 Shutout Win Over Iowa

LOS ANGELES - Graduate student Maricarmen Reyes scored in the 60th minute as No. 13 UCLA shut out Iowa 1-0 in the 2022 season opener. The victory was the first career win for new head coach Margueritte Aozasa.

Reyes broke a scoreless tie at 59:15 after taking a cross from Quincy McMahon in front of goal and one-touching it with her left past Iowa goalkeeper Macy Enneking. The goal was the 11th of her career.

Iowa had strong opportunities to start the game, recording four corner kicks in the first 12 minutes. Hawkeye midfielder had a good look at goal from the top of the box in the ninth minute, but her shot clanged off the crossbar. In the 13th minute, Josie Durr had a shot following a corner kick, but Bruin goalkeeper Lauren Brzykcy was there for the save.

Lexi Wright had UCLA's first shot of the game in the 14th minute, a shot in the box that was saved by Enneking. Reyes had a look in the 24th minute, but her shot veered just wide left. The Bruins attacked the right side for most of the half but were unable to connect on the final cross in front of goal.

After the scoreless first half, the Bruins came out firing in the second, recording two shots in the first two minutes, one by Sunshine Fontes that was blocked, and a header by Wright that went just wide. In the 57th minute, UCLA had a pair of shots in the box – by Reyes and Wright – blocked by Iowa's defense. Reyes broke the deadlock three minutes later with what turned out to be the game's only goal.

Brzykcy preserved the shutout in the 80th minute with a diving save off a bending free kick by Samantha Cary. The graduate goalkeeper finished the game with two saves on five Iowa shots to record her 21st career shutout. Enneking faced 12 shots and recorded three saves for the Hawkeyes.

WHAT A SAVE!@laurenbrzykcy11 keeps the Hawkeyes off the board in the 80th minute. Still 1-0 UCLA.

📺: @Pac12Network
📲: https://t.co/cCc2L6hqbB #GoBruins pic.twitter.com/vx8PAC3Z8x

— UCLA Women's Soccer (@UCLAWSoccer) August 19, 2022

UCLA will next play CSUN on Thursday, Aug. 25 at 4pm in the first game of a home doubleheader with the Bruin men's soccer team, who hosts UC Irvine at 7pm in its season opener.