UCLA Men’s Soccer Release 2016 Schedule
UCLA Men’s Soccer release its 2016 schedule as the four-time National Champion program prepares for another year of college soccer. UCLA returns its four top scorers as well as Pac-12 Freshman of the Year Jose Hernandez.
College Soccer News: The four-time National Champion UCLA Men’s Soccer program announced its full 2016 schedule, featuring 19 regular season games.
The Bruins, who have made 33 consecutive trips to the postseason, will play a difficult schedule which consists of eight teams that made the NCAA Tournament a year ago, including the defending champion Stanford Cardinal.
“Our 2016 schedule is as challenging as it is exciting,” said Head Coach Jorge Salcedo. “Year after year we pit ourselves against some of the top programs from the best conferences. This upcoming season is no different and, in fact, will be one of the toughest schedules we have had in recent years.”
The Bruins will open the regular season on the road at NCAA Tournament Quarterfinalist Indiana on August 20 before returning home for a five-game home stand. UCLA begins that home stretch with Maryland on August 26 and follows with matchups against Cal State Fullerton (August 29), Duke (September 2), NCAA Tournament semifinalist Akron (September 5) and CSUN (September 12). The Bruins also host Coastal Carolina (October 29) and travel to UC Santa Barbara (September 17) and Cal Poly (September 23) in non-conference play.
“The non-conference schedule coupled with the Pac-12 conference, where we have seen College Cup finalists in each of the last two seasons, will call for us to be at our best if we are going to have a successful year. The coaching staff and our players are very much looking forward to the 2016 season.”
UCLA begins Pac-12 play on September 29 with a home match against the Washington Huskies. The Bruins play each of the five other conference teams (Cal, Oregon State, San Diego State, Stanford and Washington) twice, once at home and once on the road, concluding with a home contest against the Aztecs on November 11 to close the regular season.
The Pac-12 Networks are set to televise 12 of the 19 matches, including seven of the Bruins’ 10 conference contests. Additionally, all home matches will feature a live audio broadcast free of charge here.
The Bruins bring back a strong group of players for the 2016 season, including Pac-12 Freshman of the Year Jose Hernandez. UCLA returns its four top scorers in Seyi Adekoya, Abu Danladi, Jackson Yueill and Hernandez, who each scored 20 or more points last season and earned All-Pac-12 First Team honors.
On the back end, the Bruins retain team captain center back Michael Amick and left back Chase Gasper who will anchor the defense. In net, Juan Cervantes, who led the team with 16 starts and a 1.22 GAA, also returns for UCLA.
Adding to the impressive returning group, the Bruins will once again bring in one of the nation’s best recruiting classes. The class, which consists of three freshmen and one transfer, will look to make an immediate impact in 2016.
Source/Photo Credit: UCLA Athletics
