UCLA Opens Homestand by Hosting Cal State Fullerton

No. 15 UCLA (4-2-1) vs. Cal State Fullerton (5-2-2)
Date/Time: Saturday, Sept. 24 - 7:00 p.m. (PT)
Location: Los Angeles, Calif. (Wallis Annenberg Stadium)
Stream: Pac-12.com / Pac-12 Now app
Stream Talent: Andrew Rector
Live Stats

TICKET INFORMATION
Tickets: uclabruins.com/tickets (all tickets are digital)
UCLA students free with BruinCard
Parking: purchase in advance on Park Mobile app

UCLA SET TO HOST CAL STATE FULLERTON IN NON-CONFERENCE ACTION
No. 15 UCLA (4-2-1) is set to open a four-game homestand this weekend, hosting Cal State Fullerton in a non-conference battle at Wallis Annenberg Stadium on Saturday, Sept. 24 starting at 7:00 p.m. The contest will be streamed live through Pac-12.com/live, and fans can also follow along with live stats and updates via the team Twitter account, @UCLAMSoccer. 

QUICK HITS

• UCLA is 4-2-1 overall on the year, and is coming off an unbeaten trip to the Bay Area Pac-12 schools (the program's first since 2013)
• 12 different players have recorded a point so far for UCLA, including six separate goalscorers
• UCLA's three shutouts on the season are tied for No. 21 in the country
• The Bruins have a +3 goal differential on the year, and have kept a clean sheet in three out of seven regular season games
• UCLA has out-shot its opponent in five of seven games so far
• The Bruins are 3-0 when scoring first, and 1-2 when conceding first
• 2021: 11-7-1, reached second round of NCAA Tournament, +8 goal differential (all best since 2015)

IN THE POLLS
UCLA appeared in every major national poll this week, checking in as high as No. 15 (TopDrawerSoccer) while also appearing at No. 20 (United Soccer Coaches) and No. 26 (College Soccer News). Some notes on the Bruins' ranking:

• UCLA has been ranked every week this season, debuting at No. 20 in the preseason polls and moving up as high as No. 4
• The Bruins' No. 4 ranking earlier this season was the program's highest since Sept. 1, 2015 (No. 1)
• Half of the Pac-12 is nationally ranked (others: No. 2 Stanford, No. 5 Washington)
• Both UCLA (No. 3) and Cal State Fullerton (No. 6) were ranked in this week's United Soccer Coaches Far West Region poll

THE WEEK IN REVIEW
UCLA went 1-0-1 at the Bay Area Pac-12 schools last week, battling then-No. 2 Stanford to a scoreless draw on Thursday before notching a comeback 2-1 win at California on Sunday. Kevin Diaz had the Bruins' best look at a goal against Stanford, just missing connecting with a Constantinos Michaelides cross on a diving tap-in attempt. UCLA's draw at Stanford pushed the team's unbeaten streak against the Cardinal to three games. Despite giving up the opening goal at the 40-minute mark, the Bruins connected on a pair of corner kicks to take down the Golden Bears, 2-1. Tommy Silva took both of the corners on the goal-scoring plays, marking his first-career multi-assist game. Kevin Diaz grabbed the equalizer for UCLA just 30 seconds before the halftime whistle, and Jose Contell notched the game-winner in the 76th minute with a near-post run and header. The game in Berkeley featured intermittent rain throughout.

SILVA NAMED TO COLLEGE SOCCER NEWS TEAM OF THE WEEK
Junior defender Tommy Silva was one of 13 players selected to the College Soccer News Team of the Week on Monday. Silva was a two-way force for the Bruins last week, helping keep a clean sheet against Stanford before setting up both of UCLA's goals in a 2-1 win at Cal. It was the first multi-assist performance by a Bruin this season, an first in Silva's career. It was the second time this season that Silva made a Team of the Week, as he made TopDrawerSoccer's Best XI on Aug. 29 after leading UCLA to a pair of 1-0 victories to open the season.

ALL-TIME SERIES AGAINST CAL STATE FULLERTON
UCLA owns a 30-7-3 record all-time against the Titans. Saturday's game marks the resumption of the head-to-head series, as the two programs have not met since 2016. The Bruins have won three straight against CSF (dating to 2009) and are unbeaten in seven straight games against the Titans (last loss: 2000). 

LAST TIME OUT AGAINST THE TITANS
UCLA and Cal State Fullerton last met on Aug. 29, 2016 at Drake Stadium on the campus of UCLA, with the Bruins taking away a 1-0 decision in overtime. Brian Iloski (currently playing with Orange County SC in the USL Championship) was the overtime hero for UCLA, drawing a penalty inside the box and then converting on the PK to clinch the win. Bruin keeper Juan Cervantes (currently an assistant coach with the Bruins) made five saves, including a pair of highlight-reel stops, to notch the shutout. Other Bruins to appear in that game include current pros Reggie Cannon, Jackson Yueill, and Erik Holt. 

KEEPING IT CLEAN
Thanks in part to a large advantage in possession numbers, UCLA is committing just 8.00 fouls per game to this point of the season. That figure leads the Pac-12 Conference and ranks sixth nationally.

GOOD START
UCLA won its first three games of the 2022 season, a first for the program in 20 years (last: 2002). It's the second straight year that UCLA has started strong out of the gate, as last year's squad went 6-2-0 for the program's best eight-game start since 2009. 

BRUINS HELPING BRUINS
UCLA enters the weekend ranked No. 24 in the country in assists (17). Twelve different Bruins have logged a helper this season, including a team-high four from Tommy Silva. UCLA has no unassisted goals so far this year, and has recorded the full two assists on eight of the team's 10 goals.
FIVE ON FRIDAY
The Bruins' five-goal output against Liberty on Sept. 2 was one of the program's most-prolific in recent memory:

• It was the program's most in a single game since Oct. 6, 2019, matching the most single-game goals under fourth-year HC Ryan Jorden
• Riley Ferch's five points matched the most by a Bruin since Milan Iloski potted five goals in that Oct. 6, 2019 games against the Aztecs
• UCLA had eight unique players record a point against the Flames, the most in a single game since Oct. 26, 2017

HOME COOKING
The Bruins have been tough to beat at home of late, going 14-4 over the last 18 games at Wallis Annenberg Stadium (17-4-1 counting exhibitions). UCLA was 9-3 (.750) at home last fall, the program's first time posting a win percentage north of 60% at home since the 2015 season (also 9-3). 

STAYING CLOSE
The Bruins have shown a penchant for close games in recent times. Dating back to last season, UCLA has had 19 of the last 25 games (and 16 of the last 19) decided by one goal or fewer. UCLA's three-goal margin of victory over Liberty on Sept. 2, 2022 was its largest since taking down San Diego State 4-1 on Nov. 12, 2021. 

PLENTY OF CONTINUITY    
UCLA returns the vast majority of its offensive production from a season ago, including:

• 31 of 33 goals (94%)
• 36 of 42 assists (86%)
• 98 of 108 points (91%)
• 10 of 11 game-winning goals (91%)
• Seven of 10 outfield starters
• The top six, and nine of the top 10, scorers from a year ago (on points)