# #

UCLA Set to Host Oregon State on Thursday

by uclabruins.com
Sep 27, 2022
Grayson Doody (photo: Scott Chandler)

No. 14 UCLA (5-2-1, 1-0-1) vs. Oregon State (3-2-1, 0-0-0)
Date/Time: Thursday, Sept. 29 - 6:00 p.m. (PT)
Location: Los Angeles, Calif. (Wallis Annenberg Stadium)
TV: Pac-12 Networks
TV Talent: Christian Miles (pbp), Tracey Bailey (analyst)
Audio: UCLABruins.com
Audio Talent: Nick Koop
Stream: Pac-12.com / Pac-12 Now app
Live Stats

UCLA HOSTS OREGON STATE THURSDAY NIGHT ON THE PAC-12 NETWORKS
No. 14 UCLA (5-2-1, 1-0-1) continues a four-game homestand this week with matchups against conference rivals Oregon State (Thursday, Sept. 29, 6:00 p.m. PT) and No. 2 Washington (Sunday, Oct. 2, 4:00 p.m. PT). Both games will be televised on the Pac-12 Networks, with an audio broadcast available through UCLABruins.com. Fans can also follow along with a live stream through Pac-12.com/live, as well as live stats via uclalivestats.com and live updates via the team Twitter account, @UCLAMSoccer. 

QUICK HITS

  • UCLA is 5-2-1 overall on the year, and is unbeaten in its last three games (2-0-1)
  • The Bruins enter the week atop the league table with four points, though UW and OSU have yet to play any league contests
  • 12 different players have recorded a point so far for UCLA, including six separate goalscorers
  • UCLA's four shutouts on the season are tied for No. 16 in the country
  • The Bruins have a +4 goal differential on the year, and have kept a clean sheet in four out of eight regular season games
  • UCLA has out-shot its opponent in five of eight games so far
  • The Bruins are 4-0 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. 14 (TopDrawerSoccer) while also appearing at No. 21 (United Soccer Coaches) and No. 23 (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 Washington, No. 6 Stanford)
  • 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 played just one game last week, blanking Cal State Fullerton 1-0 at Wallis Annenberg Stadium on Saturday, Sept. 24. Constantinos Michaelides had the game's lone goal, heading home a Riley Ferch cross off a 35-yard set piece in the eighth minute. The Bruins needed a few stellar defensive plays to keep the clean sheet, as goalie Nate Crockford made a highlight-reel knock-away on a 1v1 in the 31st minute before Andre Ochoa made the play of the game with a sliding goal line clearance in the 69th minute. It was UCLA's second 1-0 result against a Big West squad this year, following the team's Aug. 25 Opening Day matchup against UC Irvine. 

ALL-TIME SERIES AGAINST OREGON STATE
UCLA owns a 36-10-3 record all-time against Oregon State. The home team has won each of the last four games in the head-to-head series, with the Bruins and Beavers splitting the season series in both spring 2021 and fall 2021. UCLA is seeking its first outright season series win over OSU since 2017 (2-0-0). Active Bruins with strong career stats against OSU include Riley Ferch (3G, 1A, 6 GP), Kevin Diaz (3G, 1 A, 4 GP), Constantinos Michaelides (3G, 6 GP), Tommy Silva (3A, 4 GP), and Jose Contell (1G, 1A, 2 GP). 

LAST YEAR AGAINST THE BEAVERS

  • UCLA and Oregon State split the season series last year, with OSU taking a 4-3 decision on Sept. 30, 2021 in Corvallis before the Bruins rebounded for a 3-2 win on Nov. 8, 2021. 
  • The Beavers were the top-ranked team in the country at the time of their loss, the second time in three years under Ryan Jorden that UCLA defeated the No. 1 team in the nation (last: UCLA 3-2 Maryland, Sept. 6, 2019).
  • UCLA and OSU combined for 12 goals over two games last year, the most single-season goals ever in the head-to-head series
  • Sept. 30 at OSU: UCLA built up a 3-1 lead through 63 minutes but OSU would score three goals in quick succession to take away the 4-3 result. Kevin Diaz was the Bruins' most-impactful offensive player, setting up UCLA's first goal with a dummy that allowed Jose Contell to score easily, heading home a cross in the 36th minute to give UCLA the lead, then notching the primary assist on a counterattack sequence that resulted in a Riley Ferch goal. Tyrone Mondi scored just 26 seconds after Ferch, the first of three goals in a span of 3:09 for OSU.
  • Nov. 8 at UCLA: Constantinos Michaelides notched his first career brace to lead UCLA past No. 1 OSU, netting from close range in the 47th and 59th minutes to give the Bruins a strong lead. After OSU pulled a goal back in the 65th, Kevin Diaz put the game away with an 83rd minute score off a counter rush. Nate Crockford made his NCAA debut in that game, making two saves and earning the win. 

KEEPING IT CLEAN
Thanks in part to a large advantage in possession numbers, UCLA is committing just 8.12 fouls per game to this point of the season. That figure leads the Pac-12 Conference and ranks sixth nationally (1st: UCF, 7.00). 

GOOD START
At 5-2-1, UCLA has picked up two losses over its first eight games for the second consecutive season. Prior to that, the Bruins hadn't accomplished that feat since 2014. Earlier this year, UCLA jumped out to a 3-0 start, the program's first since 2002.

BRUINS HELPING BRUINS
UCLA enters the week ranked No. 19 in the country in assists (19). 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 nine of the team's 11 goals.

HOME COOKING
The Bruins have been tough to beat at home of late, going 15-4 over the last 19 games at Wallis Annenberg Stadium (18-4-1 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). 

SILVA IS SIZZLING
Left back Tommy Silva paces the team with four assists, tied for 35th in the country. He's twice been recognized nationally this season, making the TopDrawerSoccer Team of the Week on Aug. 29 after helping UCLA to a pair of season-opening 1-0 victories and then making the College Soccer News Team of the Week on Sept. 19 following his two-assist performance against Cal. That game against Cal marked the first multi-assist outing of his career, and the first by a Bruin this season. All-time, UCLA is 11-1-1 when Silva records a point.

STAYING CLOSE
The Bruins have shown a penchant for close games in recent times. Dating back to last season, UCLA has had 20 of the last 26 games (and 17 of the last 20) 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. 

Related News & Videos