UCLA Wraps Homestand Against San Diego State

No. 25 UCLA (5-4-1, 1-2-1) vs. San Diego State (4-5-2, 1-2-1)
Date/Time: Friday, Oct. 7 - 7:00 p.m. (PT)
Location: Los Angeles, Calif. (Wallis Annenberg Stadium)
TV: Pac-12 Networks
TV Talent: Christian Miles
Audio: UCLABruins.com
Audio Talent: Nick Koop
Stream: Pac-12.com / Pac-12 Now app
Live Stats

UCLA WRAPS HOMESTAND AGAINST SAN DIEGO STATE
No. 25 UCLA (5-4-1, 1-2-1) concludes a four-game homestand this week, hosting San Diego State on Friday night at 7:00 p.m. PT. The contest will be televised live 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 5-4-1 overall on the year, and has four points over four Pac-12 games
• 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. 35 in the country
• The Bruins have allowed one goal or fewer in five consecutive games
• UCLA is 4-0 this season when scoring first, and 1-4 when conceding first
• In all competitions, the Bruins are averaging just 3.25 shots on goal against 
• 2021: 11-7-1, reached second round of NCAA Tournament, +8 goal differential (all best since 2015)

IN THE POLLS
UCLA appeared in two major national polls this week, checking in at No. 25 in the TopDrawerSoccer poll and receiving votes in the College Soccer News rankings. 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. 1 Washington, No. 5 Stanford)
UCLA was ranked No. 6 in this week's United Soccer Coaches Far West Region poll

THE WEEK IN REVIEW
UCLA suffered a pair of 1-0 losses last week, to Oregon State and then-No. 2 Washington. Nate Crockford matched a season-high with four saves against the Beavers to keep the Bruins within striking distance. The Bruins then went toe-to-toe with the Huskies, as a 44th minute golazo from Nick Scardina (a half-volley from above the box) proved the difference. UCLA produced a few decent scoring chances against UW, most notably a partial breakaway for Jose Contell in the first half, but ultimately couldn't find the back of the net. 

ALL-TIME SERIES AGAINST SAN DIEGO STATE
UCLA owns a 46-7-15 record all-time against San Diego State, including a 21-4-9 mark since the Aztecs joined the Pac-12 Conference as an affiliate for men's soccer in 2005. UCLA has won or split the seriesin all but one year (2007) during that time, and carries a six-game unbeaten streak into Saturday's game. The Bruins are 4-0-2 against SDSU under fourth-year head coach Ryan Jorden, with a plus-eight goal differential. Current Bruins to have scored against SDSU in their careers include Tommy Silva (3G, 2A, 4 GP), Riley Ferch (4A, 6 GP), Tucker Lepley (2G, 1 A, 2 GP), Kevin Diaz (1G, 1A, 4 GP), Jose Contell (1G, 1A, 2 GP), Ollie de Visser (1G, 3 GP), and Aaron Edwards (1A, 2 GP). 

LAST YEAR AGAINST THE AZTECS

• UCLA went 2-0-0 last year against San Diego State, outscoring the Aztecs 5-1 on aggregate
• Oct. 8 at UCLA: Tucker Lepley scored a 98th minute golden goal to lead UCLA to a 1-0 victory at Wallis Annenberg Stadium. Jose Contell made the play possible, pressing high and knocking the ball loose near the SDSU box with a sliding tackle. The loose ball came to Riley Ferch atop the box, who slid in a ball for Lepley inside the 18. Lepley first-timed a low shot past the keeper for the game-winner. UCLA limited the visitors to three shots on goal and dominated possession and scoring chance opportunities. 
• Nov. 12 at SDSU: Tommy Silva scored two goals in the first 10 minutes as part of a career-high five-point night as the Bruins captured a 4-1 victory to close out the 2021 regular season. Tucker Lepley and Jose Contell each had three-point nights (G, A) as well. Silva got the Bruins on the board less than 30 seconds in to the game, and UCLA never ceded the lead the rest of the way. The Bruins were clinical as can be in San Diego, hitting the back of the net with half of their eight shot attempts. 

KEEPING IT CLEAN
Thanks in part to a large advantage in possession numbers, UCLA is committing just 9.10 fouls per game to this point of the season. That figure leads the Pac-12 Conference and ranks 12th nationally (1st: Missouri State/St. Francis, 7.67). 

GOOD START

• UCLA started off the year 3-0-0 for the first time since 2002
• The Bruins went 5-2-1 over their first eight games, the second time that UCLA had two losses or fewer in that time span since 2014

BRUINS HELPING BRUINS
UCLA enters the week ranked No. 39 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.

STAYING CLOSE
The Bruins have shown a penchant for close games in recent times. Dating back to last season, UCLA has had 22 of the last 28 games (and 18 of the last 21) 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. 

HOLDING IT DOWN
UCLA has allowed one goal or fewer in five consecutive games dating to Sept. 15's scoreless draw against Stanford. The Bruins have allowed just three goals total in that span, while going 2-2-1. This is the second time under Jorden that UCLA has gone five games in a row without conceding multiple goals, trailing only a seven-game span from Aug. 29-Sept. 25, 2021 (four goals total).