UCLA Hosts Stanford on Senior Day

by uclabruins.com
Oct 21, 2022

UCLA (8-4-1, 3-2-1) vs. No. 5 Stanford (8-1-4, 2-1-3)
Date/Time: Sunday, Oct. 23 - 3:00 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 CONCLUDES HOME SCHEDULE AGAINST CAL, STANFORD
UCLA puts a bow on its regular season home schedule this week, hosting conference rivals California (Thursday, 7:30 p.m. PT) and No. 5 Stanford (Sunday, 3:00 p.m. PT) in a pair of Pac-12 Networks-televised games. There will be halftime ceremonies for both contests, as the Bruins will honor their 1997 and 2002 National Championships teams on Thursday, and will salute the six active seniors on the squad during Sunday's game. Besides television coverage, fans can follow along with a live audio broadcast, live stats, and live updates on Twitter via @UCLAMSoccer. 

QUICK HITS

  • UCLA is 8-4-1 overall on the year, and is second in the Pac-12 table with 10 points (3-2-1)
  • The Bruins went 1-0-1 at Cal/Stanford earlier this season, the team's first unbeaten road trip to the P12 Bay Area schools since 2013
  • 12 different players have recorded a point so far for UCLA, including eight separate goalscorers
  • UCLA's seven shutouts on the season are tied for No. 9 in the country
  • The Bruins have allowed one goal or fewer in eight consecutive games, conceding just three goals total in that span
  • UCLA is 7-0 this season when scoring first, and 1-4 when conceding first
  • In all competitions, the Bruins are averaging just 3.5 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 received votes in both the United Soccer Coaches and College Soccer News polls this week. 

  • UCLA had been nationally ranked every week up until Oct. 11, and has received votes in the two polls since
  • The Bruins debuted at No. 20 in the preseason polls and moved 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)
  • UCLA was ranked No. 3 in this week's United Soccer Coaches Far West Region poll, behind only Washington and Stanford

THE WEEK IN REVIEW
UCLA played just one game last week, notching a 2-0 victory at Loyola Marymount on Friday, Oct. 14. The Bruins scored a pair of goals in the first half, and sophomore keeper Nate Crockford made a season-high six saves to earn his Pac-12-leading sixth solo shutout of the year. Tommy Silva set up UCLA's 28th minute opener, playing a long cross from the left wing for Jose Contell, who from the right side first-timed a low ball back across the box for Kevin Diaz, who put it home for his third goal of the year. UCLA doubled its lead 10 minutes later, when a Diaz back-heel pass in the box was popped into the net by an LMU defender. Pietro Grassi cleared a ball off the line for the Bruins in the 65th, in what represented arguably LMU's best scoring chance. It was the first loss for LMU (8-3-2) since Sept. 8 (a span of seven games). 

ALL-TIME SERIES AGAINST STANFORD
UCLA owns a 45-17-12 record all-time against Stanford. The Bruins are unbeaten in three straight against Stanford and went 1-0-1 against them last year, marking a turnaround in recent series history (the win snapped a 10-game losing streak and 14-game pointless streak against Stanford, and UCLA won the season series for the first time since 2013).

LAST TIME OUT AGAINST STANFORD
The Bruins and Cardinals played a scoreless draw at Cagan Stadium on Sept. 15 in Stanford, Calif. Nate Crockford made some huge stops to save a point for the Bruins, including a pair in the final 10 minutes. In the 81st, he clung to his left post but shifted to his right and got his hand on a hard-struck Liam Doyle shot that was destined for the back post, pushing it towards the opposite corner to set up a UCLA clearance. In the final 20 seconds of the game, Stanford got forward and looked like it might be able to steal a late winner. However, Crockford came out of his net to cut down the angle on a dangerous Fletcher Bank shot. The rebound came to Stanford's Carlo Agostinelli inside the 18, but his volley at the open net went high over the bar. Tommy Silva had both of UCLA's shot attempts for the game.

LAST YEAR AGAINST THE CARDINAL
UCLA won the season series over Stanford in 2021, recording a 2-0 win at home on Sept. 16 before drawing 1-1 away on Oct. 24. Riley Ferch drew a penalty in the 50th minute, and since-graduated Yoni Sorokin converted on the PK, to net the game-winning goal against the Cardinal at Wallis Annenberg Stadium, and Kevin Diaz added an insurance goal off the counter in the 79th minute. UCLA controlled possession throughout the game and especially late, limiting the Cardinal to one shot over the final 35 minutes. UCLA and Stanford battled to a 1-1 draw in heavy rain at Cagan Stadium, with both teams scoring late in the second half. Jose Contell found the opener at 74th minute, knocking in a corner at the far post. Stanford answered back with an 82nd minute score off a set piece to equalize. The game was called at the end of regulation due to poor field conditions caused by the weather. 

KEEPING IT CLEAN
Thanks in part to a large advantage in possession numbers, UCLA is committing just 9.23 fouls per game to this point of the season. That figure ranks second in the Pac-12 Conference and No. 14 nationally (1st: St. Bonaventure, 7.36). 

NATE THE GREAT
UCLA keeper Nate Crockford enters Sunday's game ranking at or near the top of the Pac-12 in practically every goalkeeper statistic. He sits alone in the league with seven solo shutouts and is tied for the lead in minutes (1,170). His eight wins, 37 saves, 0.77 goals against average, and .787 save percentage all rank second. He's allowed one goal or fewer in eight consecutive games, and is average 3.7 saves per game over his last nine contests.

STAYING CLOSE
The Bruins have shown a penchant for close games in recent times. Dating back to last season, UCLA has had 23 of the last 31 games (and 19 of the last 24) 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 eight consecutive games dating to Sept. 15's scoreless draw against Stanford. The Bruins have allowed just three goals total in that span, while going 5-2-1. This is the longest streak of such games for UCLA under fourth-year head coach Ryan Jorden, eclipsing a seven-game streak from Aug. 29-Sept. 25, 2021. The last time any UCLA team held its opponent to one goal or fewer in eight straight games was Sept. 2-Oct. 5, 2012 (nine games). 

SILVA IS SIZZLING
Left back Tommy Silva paces the team with six assists, tied for fourth in the Pac-12 Conference. 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 14-1-1 when Silva records a point.

SHUTTING THEM OUT
UCLA enters the weekend with shutouts in three consecutive games, outscoring its opponents 5-0 over that span. It marks the first time the Bruins have pitched three straight shutouts since Sept. 12-20, 2014. No Bruin team has kept four consecutive clean sheets since the 2011 squad, which set a program record with eight consecutive shutouts.

HOME COOKING
The Bruins have been tough to beat at home of late, going 17-6 over the last 23 games at Wallis Annenberg Stadium (20-6-1 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).