UCLA Men’s Soccer Wins Opening Match of NCAA Tournament
UCLA men’s soccer opened up the NCAA Tournament with a win over Colgate as the Bruins advance to the second round for the eighth consecutive year. UCLA were led by four goal scorers as they prepare to take on the Louisville Cardinals on the road this Sunday.
College Soccer News: Abu Danladi recorded a goal and an assist, while Jose Hernandez, Willie Raygoza and Kike Poleo each added to the scoresheet as the UCLA men’s soccer team defeated Colgate, 4-2, in the first round of the NCAA Tournament on Thursday at Drake Stadium.
“Tonight was a good performance by our group in our first playoff game of the tournament,” said UCLA head coach Jorge Salcedo. “We played against a good Colgate team who fought hard the entire game. We scored four good goals and created other dangerous chances. We look forward to our match versus Louisville.”
Pac-12 Co-Player of the Year Hernandez scored the opening goal of the game as his shot from outside the penalty box curled around the keeper and inside the far-left post. Colgate brought the match level in the 22nd minute on Zach Pagani’s seventh goal of the season, but UCLA regained the lead as Raygoza took a through ball from Danladi inside the box and placed it to the right post.
Danlad’s goal in the 33rd minute came off a well-struck shot off a cross from Abdullah Adam, to give the Bruins a 3-1 lead. He leads the Bruins with six goals on the season.
The Raiders cut the deficit to 3-2 in the 38th minute as Bruno Scodari collected a bouncing ball and struck a shot to the left post.
Poleo added a final goal for UCLA in the 89th minute off a strike that snuck just inside the near post for the 4-2 victory.
The Bruins improve to 15-5 all-time in the first round of the NCAA Tournament and reach the second round of the tournament for the eighth consecutive year.
With the win, UCLA (10-7-2) will head on the road to face the No. 4 seed Louisville Cardinals on Sunday.
Photo Credit: UCLA Athletics
