Soccer News: 2015 Season Officially Begins August 21
The two-time defending Pac-12 Champions UCLA Women’s Soccer program announced its full 2015 schedule. The Bruins will face 14 teams that advanced to the NCAA Tournament a year ago, including NCAA runner-up Virginia in a rematch of the 2014 NCAA quarterfinals and 2013 NCAA semifinals.
The Bruins will play their first home game on Aug. 30 against Wisconsin, kicking off a three-game home stand that also includes Virginia on Sept. 4 and Texas on Sept. 6. UCLA then goes to North Carolina to take on Wake Forest on Sept. 11 and 21-time NCAA champion North Carolina on Sept. 13. UCLA’s non-conference schedule concludes with a home match against Pepperdine on Sept. 17.
The two-time defending Pac-12 champion Bruins open up conference play on Sept. 25 with a home match against Oregon. Nine of UCLA’s 11 Pac-12 matches will be televised live on Pac-12 Networks, with a Pac-12 leading 12 total contests on the Networks’ live schedule. The Pac-12 Networks will televise 69 women’s soccer games in 2015.
Leading the Bruins in 2015 will be returning starters Taylor Smith, a U.S. Under-23 National Team member who ranked second on the Bruin team in goals scored the last two seasons (nine in 2014 and eight in 2013), and Annie Alvarado. Also returning are 2013 Pac-12 Freshman of the Year Darian Jenkins, 2013 NCAA Championship-winning goal scorer Kodi Lavrusky and 2014 Soccer America All-Freshman first-team selection Zoey Goralski.
Single-match tickets for the 2015 season will go on sale in August. Bruin fans can join the UCLA Soccer Center Circle Club today to receive exclusive benefits.
Schedule Breakdown (all times PT)
Aug. 12 vs. Missouri (scrimmage), 3:30pm at North Athletic Field
UCLA begins the season with a mid-week scrimmage against an SEC squad for the second consecutive year. UCLA and Missouri have met just once, a 5-0 Bruin win in 2009. Missouri advanced to the NCAA second round last season.
Aug. 21 at Long Beach State, 7pm
UCLA faces Long Beach State for the first time since 2009. The Bruins are 3-0 against the 49ers and 16-5-1 all-time in season openers.
Aug. 23 at San Diego, 5pm
UCLA beat San Diego twice in Los Angeles last season, 2-0 in August and 5-0 in the NCAA First Round. UCLA leads the overall series, 18-1-5.
Aug. 30 vs. Wisconsin, 4pm (Pac-12 Networks)
UCLA’s home opener will begin with a pregame #DeeStrong tribute to the late Dee Schmidt, the mother of Bruin senior Madison Tye and Badger sophomore Alexis Tye. UCLA is 3-0 all-time against Wisconsin, with the last meeting taking place in the 2012 NCAA First Round.
Sept. 4 vs. Virginia, 7pm
These two teams have eliminated each other from the NCAA Tournament the last two years. UCLA downed Virginia in penalty kicks in the 2013 NCAA semifinals en route to the Championship, and Virginia returned the favor, 2-1, in the 2014 NCAA quarterfinals on the way to the Championship match. UCLA head coach Amanda Cromwell is a Virginia grad and led the Cavaliers to their first-ever College Cup in 1991.
Sept. 6 vs. Texas, 7pm (Pac-12 Networks)
UCLA beat Texas, 1-0, on an early goal by Sam Mewis last season in Austin. This will be Texas’ first visit to Westwood. The Longhorns advanced to the NCAA second round a year ago.
Sept. 11 at Wake Forest, 4pm
The Bruins head to assistant coach Joshua Walters‘ hometown of Winston-Salem for this non-conference matchup. UCLA beat Wake Forest last season in Los Angeles, 2-1, scoring two goals in the first 12 minutes of play. Wake Forest, however, ended UCLA’s seven-game, 772-minute shutout streak.
Sept. 13 at North Carolina, 10am
UCLA memorably beat UNC for the first time ever in the 2013 NCAA quarterfinals, with Taylor Smith scoring the golden goal to send the Bruins to the College Cup. The two teams played to a scoreless tie in 2014 in Los Angeles. Forward Amber Munerlyn started for UNC in both of those contests and will now be on the other side of the field, having transferred to UCLA this fall.
Sept. 17 vs. Pepperdine, 7pm (Pac-12 Networks)
The two teams are meeting in a rematch of last season’s NCAA third round game, which was won by UCLA on a late goal by Mewis. UCLA is 15-3-2 all-time against the Waves.
Sept. 25 vs. Oregon, 8pm (Pac-12 Networks)
UCLA opens Pac-12 Conference play against the Ducks, who the Bruins beat last season in Eugene, 5-0, thanks to two goals and two assists by Mewis. The Bruins are 16-2 all-time against Oregon. This match will be the second in a doubleheader with the UCLA men, who face VCU at 4:30pm.
Oct. 1 at Washington, 7pm (Pac-12 Networks)
The Bruins return to Seattle for the second-straight year. Last season, UCLA enjoyed a 6-0 rain-soaked victory to clinch at least a share of the Pac-12 title. Gabrielle Matulich scored her first career goal in this game. The Huskies advanced to the NCAA Round of 16 in 2014.
Oct. 4 at Washington State, 11am (Pac-12 Networks)
UCLA is 16-2-4 all-time against Washington State and won last year’s match in Pullman, 1-0, thanks to a goal by Taylor Smith. The Cougars are coming off a 10-win season and NCAA appearance last year.
Oct. 9 vs. Arizona, 7pm
The Bruins dropped six goals on Arizona in Los Angeles last season on Senior Day. This year’s game is UCLA’s Breast Cancer Awareness game, with the Bruins wearing pink to support the cause. Arizona advanced to the NCAA second round last season.
Oct. 11 vs. Arizona State, 1pm (Pac-12 Networks)
Arizona State gave UCLA its only blemish in conference play last year, a 1-1 tie in Tempe to kick off Pac-12 play. The Bruins are 16-1-1 all-time against the Sun Devils.
Oct. 16 at Oregon State, 1pm
UCLA heads back to Corvallis, where the Bruins won 3-0 last year. UCLA is 17-3 all-time against the Beavers.
Oct. 23 vs. Colorado, 6pm (Pac-12 Networks)
The Bruins will look to blackout the Buffaloes in a blackout game. UCLA is 6-1 all-time against Colorado and won last year’s matchup at Drake Stadium, 1-0. Colorado advanced to the NCAA second round last year.
Oct. 25 vs. Utah, 1pm (Pac-12 Networks)
UCLA won last year’s meeting with the Utes, 1-0, in Los Angeles and leads the all-time series 4-1-1.
Oct. 29 at California, 3:30pm (Pac-12 Networks)
UCLA won last year’s meeting, 3-0, and takes a 10-game unbeaten streak against Cal into this contest. The Bears advanced to the NCAA second round last season.
Nov. 1 at Stanford, 3:30pm (Pac-12 Networks)
The Bruins have won the last two matchups against 2014 College Cup participant Stanford. Alvarado scored the game-winner in the match at UCLA last season, and Lauren Kaskie bombed a left-footer for the golden goal at Stanford in 2013.
Nov. 6 vs. USC, 6pm (Pac-12 Networks)
Last year’s matchup attracted a NCAA record crowd of 10,128 fans to the Coliseum to see UCLA capture the Pac-12 title with a 2-0 victory. UCLA is looking to also capture the attendance record from USC at this match. The Trojans won 12 games last season and made the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2010.
NCAA Tournament
Nov. 13-15 – NCAA First Round
Nov. 20/22 – NCAA Second & Third Round
Nov. 27-28 – NCAA Quarterfinals
Dec. 4/6 – NCAA College Cup (Cary, NC)
All home games played on Marshall Field at Drake Stadium unless otherwise indicated.
