2015 Bruins Men’s Soccer Update
Soccer News: Coming off of back-to-back wins, the UCLA Bruins will head on the road for the first time in five games to begin Pac-12 Conference play this weekend. The Bruins will begin with Oregon State on Friday, October 2 and finish with Washington on Sunday, October 4. Both games can be seen live on the Pac-12 Networks.
In The Rankings
UCLA remains unranked in the NSCAA Coaches’ Poll, the Soccer America Poll and the Top Drawer Soccer Poll. Oregon State comes in at No. 19 in the Top Drawer Soccer poll, but unranked in the other two, while Washington enters the weekend ranked No. 12 in Top Drawer Soccer and No. 15 in both the NSCAA and the Soccer America polls.
Scouting the Beavers
The Oregon State Beavers enter the weekend with an overall record of 5-3-0 and 2-1-0 at home at Paul Lorenz Field. The Beavers lost both matches last week, Tuesday at Gonzaga and Friday at home to Seattle, by the count of 2-1. Oregon State is currently on a three-game losing streak after winning its opening five games of the 2015 campaign. The Beavers are led by the talented duo of Timmy Mueller and Jordan Jones who have combined to score nine of OSU’s 10 goals this season. In net, Nolan Wirth has started seven of eight games, posting a 0.99 GAA with 15 saves.
UCLA holds a 28-4-3 all-time record against Oregon State and have not lost to the Beavers in 19 consecutive matches. Over that stretch, the Bruins are 16-0-3, including two wins last season against Oregon State. The last loss for UCLA to the Beavers came on October 9, 2005.
Scouting the Huskies
The No. 15 Washington Huskies enter the weekend with an overall record of 4-1-3 and 3-0-2 at home at Husky Soccer Stadium. The Huskies went 0-1-1 last week and have not won in three-straight matches, earning two ties and a loss. On Thursday at Seattle, Washington lost 2-1 and on Sunday at home against Portland, the Huskies earned a 0-0 draw. Washington will face off with San Diego State at home on Friday before taking on UCLA. The Huskies are led by James Moberg, who has a team-high three goals, and Quentin Pearson, who has two goals and an assist. In net, Ryan Herman has proved to be the class of the conference, posting a Pac-12-best five shutouts in seven starts. Herman lays claim to a 0.52 GAA and a conference-high 29 saves on the season.
UCLA holds a 26-12-4 all-time record against Washington and have not lost to the Huskies in five consecutive meetings. The Bruins are 4-0-1 in their last five, including two wins last season.
Back-To-Back Wins Put Bruins on Track
After a slow start to the season, UCLA has won three of its last four matches, including both games last weekend at home. On Friday, the Bruins took down the VCU Rams, 2-1, behind goals from Seyi Adekoya and Larry Ndjock. Adekoya scored the first goal of the game to pull even with VCU at the half before Ndjock’s second-half penalty kick proved victorious for UCLA. On Sunday, a first-half red card to Malcolm Jones forced the Bruins to play with 10 men for much of the evening. UC Irvine exploited that for three goals early in the second half. However, the Bruins responded with two goals from Adekoya and a 90th minute score from Jose Hernandez to force OT. Eight minutes into extra-time, it was Hernandez again scoring for the Bruins to cap the amazing 4-3 comeback win.
Adekoya Named Pac-12 Player of the Week
UCLA sophomore striker Seyi Adekoya is getting hot quickly for the Bruin offense. After scoring four goals in three games last week, Adekoya was named the Pac-12 Conference Player of the Week. His four goals bring his season-total to six, which leads the Pac-12 and ranks 12th in the nation. After not scoring in the team’s first four games, Adekoya has racked up all six goals over his last four contests. Adekoya not only leads the conference in goals, but also points (12) and goals per game (0.75). Through eight games, Adekoya has already surpassed his goal total from a year ago and sits just two points behind his point total from 2014. His stellar play also netted him Top Drawer Soccer Player of the Week.
Hernandez and Yueill Top Rookie Ranks
UCLA freshman midfielders Hernandez and Jackson Yueill have proved they are the class of the Pac-12 Conference among freshmen so far this season. The freshmen midfielders each have seven points, ranking first among all freshmen in the conference. Hernandez’ three goals rank second on the team and seventh in the conference, while Yueill’s three assists rank second on the team and sixth in the conference.
Youth Reigns Supreme
For UCLA this season, the youth has carried the scoring load through eight games. Of the Bruins’ 16 goals, 12 have been scored by freshmen or sophomores.
Second Half/Overtime Adjustments
UCLA has been a completely different team in the second half and overtime so far this season. 13 of the team’s 16 goals have been scored in the second half or overtime and 72 of their 108 shots have come in the second half or overtime. The shot differential in the second half and overtime also favors UCLA, 72-43, over opponents.
UCLA’s Pac-12 Road Dominance
The UCLA Bruins have proved to be absolute road warriors in conference games away from home in recent years. Since 2008, UCLA is 26-4-5 in Pac-12 Conference road games. Furthermore, during that span, the Bruins have never lost more than one conference road game in a season and have gone a perfect 5-0 on the road twice (2012, 2011). Last season, UCLA went 3-1-1 in road conference games, beating both Oregon State and Washington.
Michael Amick the Iron Man
UCLA junior defender Michael Amick has been an iron man for the Bruins in his three years in Westwood. He has appeared in 50 of a possible 52 games in his career and is currently riding a streak of 39 consecutive starts spanning from 2013 to now. Last season, Amick led all UCLA field players in minutes played, logging 2,287 minutes, and he currently ranks second on the team this season with 695 minutes, behind only Chase Gasper’s 724. As a freshman in 2013, Amick finished the season with 1,484 minutes logged, tops among Bruin freshmen and fourth among all UCLA players.
Salcedo Approaches Win Number 150
UCLA Head Coach Jorge Salcedo has had a very successful tenure in Westwood, going 148-57-38 in 243 career games at the helm. The Bruin head man is just two wins away from reaching number 150, which would make him just the third UCLA head coach to reach that mark. He currently has the third most wins of any UCLA head coach, trailing just Sigi Schmid (322) and Ed “Jock” Stewart (194). Salcedo trails only California’s Kevin Grimes in career wins among active Pac-12 head coach’s at their current school.
UCLA All-Time Head Coach Records
Name (Tenure) Record
Sigi Schmid (19 seasons) 322-63-33
Ed “Jock” Stewart (18 seasons) 194-29-12
Jorge Salcedo (11+ seasons) 148-57-38
Dennis Storer (7 seasons) 103-10-10
Steve Gay (5 seasons) 72-34-10
Todd Saldana (3 seasons) 43-17-4
Tom Fitzgerald (2 seasons) 38-5-4
Terry Fisher (1 season) 15-3-4
Dan Stevenson (3 seasons) 8-15-5
Don Drury (1 season) 2-3-0
