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UCLA Resumes Pac-12 Play in the Pacific Northwest

by uclabruins.com
Nov 2, 2022
Aaron Edwards (photo: Scott Chandler)

UCLA (9-5-1, 3-3-1) at No. 1 Washington (13-0-3, 5-0-2)
Date/Time: Thursday, Nov. 3 - 8:00 p.m. (PT)
Location: Seattle, Wash. (Husky Soccer Stadium)
TV: Pac-12 Networks
TV Talent: Elise Woodward (pbp), Temryss Lane (analyst)
Stream: Pac-12.com / Pac-12 Now app
Live Stats

UCLA (9-5-1, 3-3-1) at No. 16 Oregon State (6-3-5, 2-1-4)
Date/Time: Sunday, Nov. 6 - 2:00 p.m. (PT)
Location: Corvallis, Ore. (Lorenz Field)
TV: Pac-12 Insider
Stream: Pac-12.com / Pac-12 Now app
Live Stats

UCLA RESUMES PAC-12 PLAY WITH TRIP TO THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST
After a non-conference trip to Rutgers last week, the UCLA men's soccer team resumes Pac-12 competition this week with a pair of road games against ranked opponents, traveling to No. 1 Washington (13-0-3, 5-0-2) on Thursday, Nov. 3 at 8:00 p.m. PT and No. 16 Oregon State (6-3-5, 2-1-4) on Sunday, Nov. 6 at 2:00 p.m. PT. The former will be televised on the Pac-12 Networks, while Pac-12 Insider will carry Sunday's contest. Both can be streamed through Pac-12.com/live, and fans can also follow along with live stats (uclalivestats.com) and Twitter updates from the official team account, @UCLAMSoccer.

QUICK HITS

  • UCLA is 9-5-1 overall on the year, and is third in the Pac-12 table with 10 points (3-3-1)
  • The Bruins have allowed one goal or fewer in 10 consecutive games, conceding just four goals total in that span
  • The 10-game streak with 1 goal against or fewer is the program's longest since 2005
  • UCLA has kept a clean sheet in four of its last five games
  • 12 different players have recorded a point so far for UCLA, including eight separate goalscorers
  • UCLA's eight shutouts on the season are tied for No. 9 in the country
  • UCLA is 8-0 this season when scoring first, and 1-5 when conceding first
  • In all competitions, the Bruins are averaging just 3.6 shots on goal against 
  • 2021: 11-7-1, reached second round of NCAA Tournament, +8 goal differential (all best since 2015)

THE WEEK IN REVIEW
UCLA played just one game last week, flying to the east coast and recording a 1-0 win at Rutgers on Saturday, Oct. 29. Riley Ferch landed the game's lone goal in the 25th minute, drilling a shot from above the box off a short corner. UCLA was out-shot 15-6 overall for the contest, but limited the Scarlet Knights to only low-danger scoring chances. The best chance by far for the hosts to equalize came in the 86th minute, as Rutgers was awarded a PK following a foul in the corner of the box. However, Nate Crockford perfectly read the spot kick by MD Myers (the joint leading goalscorer in NCAA entering the weekend), diving low to his right to deny the chance and preserve the shutout. It was the Bruins' first win at Rutgers since 1994 (it was just the fourth-ever meeting between the two at Rutgers, and first since 2002). 

HOLDING IT DOWN
UCLA has allowed one goal or fewer in 10 consecutive games dating to Sept. 15's scoreless draw against Stanford. The Bruins have allowed just four goals total in that span, while going 6-3-1. 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. It also matches the longest streak for any UCLA team since 2005 (12 games between Sept. 25-Nov. 6, 2005). 

ALL-TIME SERIES AGAINST WASHINGTON
UCLA owns a 30-23-4 record all-time against Washington. The Huskies have had the upper hand in the head-to-head series in recent years, winning eight consecutive matches. Current Bruins to have recorded points against Washington include Kevin Diaz (1G, 1A, 5 GP), Riley Ferch (1G, 7 GP), Constantinos Michaelides (1A, 7 GP), and Jose Contell (1A, 3 GP). 

LAST TIME OUT AGAINST UW
A highlight-reel half-volley from Nick Scardina just before the halftime break proved to be the difference as UCLA battled to a 1-0 loss against then-No. 2 Washington on Oct. 2 at Wallis Annenberg Stadium. The Bruins had a few good scoring chances against the Huskies − Jose Contell shot right into the keeper on a partial 1v1 in the first half, and Thomas Raimbault headed over the bar off a back-post flick in the second half − but couldn't hit the back of the net. 

LAST YEAR AGAINST THE HUSKIES

  • UCLA went 0-2 against Washington last year, including a 2-1 heartbreaker in Seattle on Oct. 3 and a 3-0 defeat in Westwood on Nov. 4. 
  • Oct. 3 at UW: Kevin Diaz took advantage of a Washington miscue to open the scoring in the 80th minute, but UW responded with two goals in the final seven minutes to take a heartbreaking 2-1 decision from UCLA. Since-graduated keeper Justin Garces made a season-high seven saves in the game. Jose Contell helped set up the Bruin goal, pressuring the UW back line and forcing them to pass back to the keeper. From there, the UW keeper took too big a touch and Diaz beat him to a 50-50 ball and put it in the net. 
  • Nov. 4 at UCLA: Dylan Teves broke through in the 22nd minute for UW, and the visitors added a pair of late goals to account for the final scoreline. Tyler Kirberg made a career-high 10 saves in relief for UCLA, matching a program freshman record. He was pressed into duty when Garces was knocked out of the game after colliding with a Washington attacker at the 6:45 mark. 

ALL-TIME SERIES AGAINST OREGON STATE
UCLA owns a 36-11-3 record all-time against Oregon State. OSU's win in Westwood earlier this season snapped a four-game winning streak by home teams in the head-to-head series. UCLA is looking to split the season series with OSU for the third consecutive season, after having done so in the spring 2021 and fall 2021 campaigns. Active Bruins with strong career stats against OSU include Riley Ferch (1G, 3A, 7 GP), Kevin Diaz (3G, 1 A, 5 GP), Constantinos Michaelides (3G, 7 GP), Tommy Silva (3A, 5 GP), and Jose Contell (1G, 1A, 3 GP). 

LAST TIME OUT AGAINST OSU
The Bruins were edged, 1-0, by the Beavers on Sept. 29 of this season at Wallis Annenberg Stadium. Nate Crockford was a standout for the Bruins, making four saves including a pair of highlight stops. Aaron Edwards had the Bruins' best chance at equalizing, pouncing on a loose ball in the box but sending it wide of the far post in the 90th minute.

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 9.20 fouls per game to this point of the season. That figure ranks second in the Pac-12 Conference and No. 12 nationally (1st: Missouri State, 7.29). 

NATE THE GREAT
UCLA keeper Nate Crockford enters the week at or near the top of the Pac-12 in practically every goalkeeping statistic:

  • 1st – solo shutouts (8), save percentage (.804), wins (9, T)
  • 2nd – minutes (1,350), GAA (0.73), saves (45, T)
  • 3rd – GA (11)
  • He's allowed one goal or fewer in 10 consecutive games, and is averaging 3.7 saves over his last 11 games
  • Crockford was named to the Nov. 1 TopDrawerSoccer Team of the Week after stopping a PK as part of a six-save shutout of Rutgers

ON THE ROAD AGAIN
The Bruins are in the midst of a four-game road swing to close out the regular season. It marks the first time the Bruins have played four consecutive games away from home since the 2014 season, and the first time playing four true road games in succession since the 2012 season. 

STAYING CLOSE
The Bruins have shown a penchant for close games in recent times. Dating back to last season, UCLA has had 25 of the last 33 games (and 21 of the last 26) 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. 

SILVA IS SIZZLING
Left back Tommy Silva paces the team with seven assists, third 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 15-1-1 when Silva records a point.

FEELING LIKE A 10
With its next win, UCLA will hit the 10-win plateau for the season. The Bruins are seeking their 63rd season with 10 wins all-time, and the first back-to-back campaigns with double-digit wins since 2015-16. 

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