No. 2 Seeded UCLA to Face San Diego in Second Round Bout
#2 UCLA vs. San Diego
Marshall Field at Drake Stadium
Sunday, Nov. 23 - 7:00 pm PT
Audio/Live Stats - www.UCLABruins.com
Twitter - @UCLAMsoccer | #USDvsUCLA
Tickets: $10 for adults/$8 for youth/students (w/valid ID)
No. 2 Seed UCLA Faces USD in Second Round
The No. 2 seeded UCLA Bruins will open the NCAA Tournament with a matchup against San Diego. After earning a first round bye, the Bruins will play their second round match against the Toreros on Sunday, Nov. 23 at 7:00pm PT at Drake Stadium. Tickets for Sunday’s postseason match are $10 for adults and $8 for youth and students with valid identification.
Bruin/Torrero Connections
**Non-Conference Common Opponents: The Bruins and Toreros have one common non-conference opponent, New Mexico. UCLA defeated the Lobos, 2-1, on Sept. 7, while San Diego fell to New Mexico, 0-2, on Sept. 14.
**UCLA sophomore midfielder Brian Iloski and San Diego junior forward Torrey DeArmas and junior defender Jose Merlo each attended San Pasqual High School in Escondido, Calif.
In the Rankings
The Bruins finished the regular season as the No. 3 ranked team in the NSCAA Coaches Poll and the No. 1 ranked team in the RPI rankings. UCLA’s regular season success earned them the No. 2 overall seed in the NCAA Tournament.
Scouting the Torreros
San Diego (11-5-4) enters the second round matchup with the Bruins fresh off of a first round double-overtime victory over Cal State Fullerton. The Toreros converted each of their penalty kicks (89th minute, 103rd minute) in the game, giving them the 2-1 win in extra time. The Toreros went 6-1 in conference play during the regular season, earning them the West Coast Conference title. San Diego is led by senior midfielder, Connor Brandt, who has tallied seven goals and six assists this season. Second on the team in scoring is junior forward Torrey DeArmas who has posted seven goals and two assists. In net, redshirt freshman goalkeeper Thomas Olsen has allowed just 0.84 goals per game and has recorded six shutouts. San Diego is 4-2-3 on the road this season.
UCLA and San Diego met one prior time this season on Sept. 26. The Bruins were defeated by the home Toreros, 1-0, on a goal from Patrick Zimmer in the 15th minute.
UCLA is 22-7-4 (3-4 in the postseason) all-time against the San Diego Toreros. In their most recent postseason meeting in 2001, the Bruins defeated San Diego, 4-0, in the second round of the NCAA Tournament.
The Bruins Success in the ‘Big Dance’
The Bruins have fared well in the NCAA Tournament, holding a 68-38 all-time record in their 106 postseason matches. UCLA has claimed four national championships over that span, including their most recent title capture in 2002. The Bruins have also advanced to the College Cup 13 times. This year’s postseason berth marks the 32nd straight trip to the tournament for the Bruins, and their 42nd overall appearance.
Nine Bruins Named Pac-12 All-Conference
Nine UCLA Bruins men’s soccer players were named to Pac-12 All-Conference Teams, including three to the first team, as announced by the conference on Thursday.
First Team All-Pac-12
Michael Amick (Freshman, Defender)
Earl Edwards Jr. (Senior, Goalkeeper)*
Leo Stolz (Senior, Midfielder)*
Second Team All-Pac-12
Seyi Adekoya (Freshman, Forward)
Honorable Mention All-Pac-12
Abu Danladi (Freshman, Forward)
Grady Howe (Junior, Midfielder/Defender)
Aaron Simmons (Senior, Defender)*
Nathan Smith (Sophomore, Defender)
Andrew Tusaazemajja (Senior, Forward)
* indicates player has earned All-Conference previously.
Seven Bruins Earn Pac-12 All-Academic
Seven UCLA Bruins men’s soccer players were named to Pac-12 All-Academic Teams, as announced by the conference on Friday.
First Team All-Academic
Grady Howe (Junior, Economic Major)*
Second Team All-Academic
Michael Amick (Sophomore, Chemistry Major)
Gage Zerboni (Sophomore, Communications Major)
Honorable Mention All-Academic
Brian Iloski (Sophomore, Economics Major)
Larry Ndjock (Junior, International Dev. Major)
Leo Stolz (Senior, Political Science Major)*
Felix Vobejda (Sophomore, Phychology Major)
* indicates player has earned All-Academic previously.
Another Player of the Year Award for Stolz
UCLA senior midfielder, Leo Stolz, was named the 2014 Offensive Player of the Year by College Sports Madness. In addition, he was named to the organization’s All-American First Team. Stolz was named the Pac-12 Player of the Year in 2013. Also being honored by College Sports Madness, senior goalkeeper, Earl Edwards Jr., was named to the All-American Third Team.
Stolz, finished the regular season with seven goals and four assists, to lead the Bruins in points with 18. The 2013 Pac-12 Player of the Year started all 19 games for UCLA, recording two game-winning goals.
Seven Bruins Named as TDS Top Players
Three Bruins were recently named to the Top Drawer Soccer Top 100 players list along with four more named to the Top Drawer Soccer Top 100 freshmen list. Leo Stolz retained the No. 1 spot on the Top 100 players list while being joined by Michael Amick at No. 21 and Earl Edwards Jr. at No. 94. On the top 100 freshmen list, Abu Danladi came in at No. 2 overall while Chase Gasper came in at No. 17, Seyi Adekoya came in at No. 31 and Christian Chavez rounded out the group at No. 51.
Freshmen Continue to Contribute
UCLA’s freshman class has proven to be valuable this season with five true freshmen contributing substantial minutes in the regular season. The rookie attackers have been sensational with Seyi Adekoya leading the way with five goals and four assists followed by Abu Danladi with four goals and one assist. Also pitching in a goal, Christian Chavez has been a dangerous member of the Bruins frontline as well. Left back Chase Gasper has proven to be a stalwart in the defensive group, playing 15 games (11 starts), while pitching in three assists and William Cline has been an important player in the midfield playing 13 games (one start) as well.
Looking Ahead
The Bruins are in the midst of their 32nd straight NCAA Tournament appearance and 42nd appearance overall. A team should never look ahead, but if the Bruins were to come away victorious this weekend, they would face the winner of California and Southern Illinois-Edwardsville. UCLA holds a 3-0 postseason record over the Golden Bears and they have never faced Southern Illinois-Edwardsville in postseason play.
Recent Postseason History
2002
at UCLA 4, Loyola Marymount 2, 2nd Rd.
at UCLA 3, California 2, 3rd Round
at UCLA 7, Penn State 1, Quarterfinals
UCLA 2, Maryland 1, Semifinals
UCLA 1, Stanford 0, Final
2003
at UCLA 3, Tulsa 2, 2nd Round
at UCLA 2, FIU 0, 3rd Round
Indiana 2, at UCLA 1, Quarterfinals
2004
at UCLA 3, Loyola Marymount 0, 2nd Rd.
St. John’s 2, at UCLA 1, 3rd Round
2005
SMU 3, at UCLA 0, 2nd Round
2006
at UCLA 3 Harvard 0, 2nd Round
at UCLA 3, Clemson 0, 3rd Round
UCLA 3, at Duke 2 (ot), Quarterfinals
UCLA 4, Virginia 0, Semifinals
UC Santa Barbara 2, UCLA 1, Final
2007
at UCLA 1, New Mexico 0, 1st Round
at Santa Clara 3, UCLA 1, 2nd Round
2008
Cal Poly 1, at UCLA 0, 1st Round
2009
at UCLA 2, Sacramento State 1, 2nd Rd.
at UCLA 2, UC Santa Barbara 1, 3rd Round
at Wake Forest 2, UCLA 0, Quarterfinals
2010
at UCLA 4, Sacramento State 1, 2nd Rd.
at UCLA 2, Dartmouth 1 (2ot), 3rd Round
at Lousiville 5, UCLA 4 Quarterfinals
2011
at UCLA 1, Delaware 0, 2nd Round
at UCLA 3, Rutgers 0, 3rd Round
UCLA 1, at Lousiville 0 (2ot), Quarterfinals
UCLA 2, North Carolina 2*, Semifinals
2012
San Diego 5, at UCLA 2, 2nd Round
2013
at UCLA 4, Elon 0, 2nd Round
at UCLA 3, Connecticut 3*, 3rd Round