UCLA Concludes Successful Spring, Looks Ahead to 2007
Published 5/6/2007 3:58:25 PM by staff from cstv.com
The UCLA men's soccer team wrapped up a successful Spring season on Apr. 29 with a 4-1 victory over the Chivas USA Reserves. With strong showings against professional teams and U.S. National Teams, the Bruins look ahead with confidence to 2007, when they open the season in August.
Against Chivas USA, the Bruins burst out to a 3-0 lead behind goals by Chance Myers, Michael Stephens on a penalty kick, and Mike Zaher off a Stephens assist. After Chivas USA got on the board, Jason Leopoldo made it 4-1 after a great run, scoring unassisted.
UCLA went 2-1-1 against professional teams in the Spring, also emerging victorious against the Chicago Fire on Mar. 9. Goals by David Estrada and Stephens gave the Bruins a 2-0 lead before the game ended in a 2-1 UCLA victory. The Bruins tied the Los Angeles Galaxy reserves, 1-1, on Apr. 13, with Estrada netting the tying goal. The one loss to a professional team came on Feb. 16, 3-0. The Bruins were missing starters Sal Zizzo, Leopoldo and Tony Beltran and hung in against a Galaxy squad that consisted of much of its current starting lineup, including All-Star players Landon Donovan, Joe Cannon, Chris Albright and Cobi Jones.
The Bruins also played early spring games against the U.S. National Team on Jan. 27 and the U.S. Olympic Team on Feb. 12. UCLA lost by a 3-2 margin to the Full National Team, with Zaher scoring on a penalty kick and Kyle Nakazawa on a direct free kick. Goalkeeper Brian Perk shut out the U.S. team in the second half. Against the Under-23 squad, Perk and the Bruins earned a first-half shutout but conceded two goals in the second half and had the misfortune of having two shots hit the post in the first half.
UCLA also had a 1-1 tie against Cal State Dominguez Hills after the Apr. 13 Galaxy game. Nakazawa scored the only goal for the Bruins.
The Bruins return all but two starters from last season's NCAA finalist squad. The 2007 season begins with an Aug. 25 exhibition game at North Carolina State. The Bruins travel to Indiana Aug. 31-Sept. 2 for games against NCAA quarterfinalist Notre Dame and seven-time NCAA champion Indiana. UCLA opens at home against Penn State on Sept. 14 and Ohio State on Sept. 16. In all, the Bruins have 11 games scheduled against 2006 NCAA Tournament teams.
2007 UCLA Men's Soccer Schedule
Aug. 25 - at North Carolina State, 7 pm (exhibition)
Aug. 31 - vs. Notre Dame (@ Bloomington, IN), 5 pm
Sept. 2 - at Indiana, 2 pm
Sept. 8 - at Creighton, 7:30 pm
Sept. 14 - Penn State, 7:30 pm
Sept. 16 - Ohio State, 2:00 pm
Sept. 20 - at San Francisco, 7:00 pm
Sept. 22 - at Santa Clara, 7:00 pm
Sept. 29 - at Cal State Northridge, 4:00 pm
Oct. 3 - at San Diego, 7:00 pm
Oct. 7 - at San Diego State, 1:00 pm
Oct. 12 - Stanford, 7:30 pm
Oct. 14 - California, 2:30 pm
Oct. 19 - at Oregon State, 7:30 pm
Oct. 21 - at Washington, 1:00 pm
Oct. 26 - Oregon State, 5:00 pm
Oct. 28 - Washington, 1:00 pm
Nov. 2 - at Stanford, 7:30 pm
Nov. 4 - at California, 2:30 pm
Nov. 17 - San Diego State, 7:00 pm (tentative)
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