UCLA
San Diego State
UCLA Shuts Out San Diego State, 1-0
October 09, 2010 | Men's Soccer
Oct. 9, 2010
Los Angeles, Calif. - UCLA and San Diego State had played five consecutive draws at Drake Stadium, and Saturday night's match was looking like it would be six in a row until a 78th minute goal by Bruin freshman Kelyn Rowe provided the only score of the game and gave #16 UCLA a 1-0 win over the #21 Aztecs.
The first half was scoreless despite some strong individual efforts to create scoring chances. In the ninth minute, a pinpoint pass by Eder Arreola down the left sideline found its way to Victor Chavez, who fired a shot that was saved by Aztec goalkeeper Brad Byrns. Chavez was in the mix of another opportunity in the 23rd minute, making a steal near the top of the box and finding Reed Williams on the right side. Williams sent a cross into the box, but the ball was cleared out before a Bruin could get a shot off. For San Diego State, freshman Sean Zaher had a shot in front of the goal in the 34th minute that just missed wide.
The two goalkeepers made some big plays in the second half. In the 51st minute, UCLA's Brian Rowe leaped high to stop a shot by Jose Altamirano. Just two minutes later, Chavez had a shot on the right side that Byrns came out to snare. Two minutes after that, Byrns came up big again with a save on a close-range header by Reed Williams. Brian Rowe made the defensive play of the game, however, at 75:18. Raymundo Reza sent in a hard shot towards the right corner, but Rowe made an acrobatic save, extending far to his left to make the stop.
A little over two minutes later, UCLA got all the scoring it needed. Zack Foxhoven made a run down the left side, dribbling past defenders before sending a pass to Kelyn Rowe on the right side. Rowe took a shot from the top of the box and beat Byrns for his fourth goal of the season and second game-winner.
In the final five minutes, San Diego State had chances to equalize but was unable to do so. In the 86th minute, the Aztecs won a free kick just outside the top of the box after a hand ball, but Reza's shot was blocked by the UCLA wall. And with 34 seconds remaining, Miles Byass sent a shot that went wide left.
Brian Rowe finished the game with three saves and earned the shutout, his fifth of the season. He has yet to allow a goal in conference play. Byrns had five saves in the loss.
UCLA remains unbeaten in the Pac-10 play, sporting a 3-0-0 conference record and 8-2-1 record overall. San Diego State falls to 7-3-1 overall and 1-2-0 in the Pac-10. The Bruins will play next at Stanford on Oct. 15.
