UCLA
Cal Poly
UCLA Advances to NCAA Second Round
November 20, 2015 | Men's Soccer
LOS ANGELES – The UCLA Bruins shut out the Cal Poly Mustangs, 2-0, to advance to the second round of the NCAA Tournament on Thursday evening at Drake Stadium. Jordan Vale scored the game-winning goal for the Bruins in the victory.
UCLA advances to play at the 11th-seeded Seattle University Redhawks on Sunday, November 22 in the second round of play.
“Tonight was an overall good performance from our group,” said UCLA Head Coach Jorge Salcedo. “Juan Cervantes made some key saves that were pivotal in the game. I thought we defended well as a team and created numerous goal scoring opportunities. We took one goal from a set piece and one from an own-goal, but we created other great opportunities in the run of play. We look forward to going up to Seattle to play a very good Seattle University team and we'll go there to try to win and stamp our mark from the get go.”
Both defenses came out and played strong in the opening 45 minutes, preventing either side from garnering many chances. However, UCLA had an excellent chance to get on the board in the 28th minute. Seyi Adekoya and Abu Danladi created an attack down the left side of the pitch with Adekoya stopping at the left edge of the box to feed a pass back to the middle. Jackson Yueill then got on the end of the pass and a let a hard right-footed shot fly, but his attempt went sailing high over the crossbar.
Cal Poly (11-5-5) answered back with a chance of its own in the 37th minute. Chase Minter took a free-kick from just above the top right corner of the box and sent a bending drive towards the upper corner of the frame. UCLA goalkeeper Juan Cervantes dived to make the save and then recovered to make another sprawling save on a rebound attempt to keep the Mustangs off the board.
At the half, UCLA was getting out-shot, 4-3, but had earned four corners to Cal Poly's two.
UCLA (11-8-1) finally broke the scoreless tie 14 minutes into the second half of play. After putting consistent pressure on the Cal Poly defense, the Bruins earned a corner kick. Yueill took the corner and sent a bending drive into a crowded box where Vale emerged from the group. The senior cut towards the near post and flicked the ball with his head to the far post and past Wade Hamilton for his second career postseason goal to put UCLA up by one.
The Bruins then doubled their lead in the 77th minute on a Cal Poly own goal. A pass from Danladi sprung Felix Vobejda into the penalty area down the right side of the field. Vobejda then attempted a cross to the center, but his attempt was kicked in by a Mustang defender to put UCLA up, 2-0.
UCLA had several other good opportunities in the second half, including two Danladi attempts that went off of the post. However, the two goals proved to be enough for the Bruins to advance past Cal Poly and into the second round of the NCAA Tournament.
Overall, UCLA out-shot Cal Poly, 13-7, including, 10-3, in the second half. Juan Cervantes was excellent, making four saves to earn his fourth shutout. Wade Hamilton made two saves in the loss for Cal Poly.
The Bruins now travel to play No. 11 Seattle on Sunday, November 22 at 6:00pm PT. The game will be streamed live at GoSeattleU.com.
