UCLA Blanks Rutgers on the Road, 1-0

PISCATAWAY, N.J. – Senior midfielder Riley Ferch found the back of the net in the 25th minute and a staunch defensive effort made that hold up as the game-winner as UCLA recorded a 1-0 win at Rutgers on Saturday afternoon.

With the result, the Bruins (9-5-1) have now limited their opponents to one goal or fewer in 10 consecutive contests, the longest such streak for the team under fourth-year head coach Ryan Jorden. It was also the Bruins' eighth shutout of the campaign.

Ferch's score came off a corner kick for UCLA. Stationed above the box, Ferch received a pass off a short corner from Jose Sosa, took a touch towards net and then drilled a shot into the top-right corner of the net past keeper Ciaran Dalton.

That marker held up as the lone goal in the game thanks to solid defensive play and a particularly clutch play from sophomore keeper Nate Crockford, who matched a season-high with six saves on Saturday.

The Bruins were outshot 16-5 overall for the contest, but gave up very few scoring chances.

By far the Scarlet Knights' best chance to score came in the 86th minute as a foul in the corner of the 18-yard box granted the hosts a PK, but Crockford read the spot kick from NCAA-leading scorer MD Myers perfectly, denying the chance and preserving the clean sheet. 

UCLA returns to Pac-12 competition next week, traveling for road contests at Washington on Thursday, Nov. 3 and Oregon State on Sunday, Nov. 6.