UCLA
7-4-0, 3-1-0
Oregon State
5-4-2, 1-2-0
UCLA Controls Oregon State, Logs 1-0 Win
October 07, 2018 | Men's Soccer
LOS ANGELES – The UCLA men's soccer team recorded its second consecutive shutout on Sunday afternoon, holding Oregon State without a shot on goal in a 1-0 win at Wallis Annenberg Stadium.
Despite heavily outshooting the Beavers, UCLA (7-4, 3-1 Pac-12) didn't break through for a goal until the 79th minute, when senior midfielder Kike Poleo teamed up with freshman midfielder Matt Hundley for a nice give-and-go in the box before banging a shot off the left post and into the net.
That one goal turned out to be enough for the Bruins, who turned in another strong defensive performance. Oregon State (5-4-2, 1-2-0 Pac-12) was held to just eight shots overall and none on frame. Sunday represented the first time since Oct. 12, 2015 (vs. San Diego State) that UCLA held an opponent without a shot on goal.
"I saw a really good team performance and a group that came out committed to our game plan, came out with the right mentality," said UCLA head coach Jorge Salcedo. "We were unlucky not to score more than one goal, but getting three points and recording a shutout is a fantastic result. It bookends a weekend that we had hoped for and planned for. That's what we got, and more importantly, it's what we deserved.
UCLA controlled the run of play in the first half, as the ball was almost constantly in OSU's defensive half. Clear scoring chances weren't abundant, but the Bruins did have a pair of great looks at the net.
First, freshman midfielder Frankie Amaya made a run through the left side of the box in the 24th minute to get on the other end of a low cross from Joab Santoyo, but his close-range shot was pushed over the bar by Oregon St. keeper Adrian Fernandez.
Hundley capped off a sequence following a corner kick in the 35th minute with a sharp angle shot to Fernandez's right, but the drive was swallowed up.
UCLA was outright dominant in the second half, ultimately outshooting OSU 12-2 for the period. The Bruins consistently tested Fernandez, who was forced to come up with big stops on Amaya in the 59th minute and Blayne Martinez in the 72nd minute. Junior midfielder Roman Martin almost came up with a highlight-reel goal in the 71st minute, but his half-volley whistled just outside the left post.
Poleo eventually helped UCLA's efforts pay off in the 79th minute. Approaching the box from the left wing, Poleo played a pass to the top of the box for Hundley. While Hundley held the ball up, Poleo swung around to the right and Hundley played him a pass while they overlapped. Poleo drilled a first-touch shot off the pass, and had it carom off the right post and in for his second career goal.
UCLA breaks through!
— UCLA Men's Soccer (@UCLAMSoccer) October 7, 2018
Kike Poleo and Matt Hundley play a little give and go in the box, then Kike bangs a shot off the left post and in for his 1st goal of the year.
UCLA leads 1-0 with less than 10 mins remaining. Tune in here >> https://t.co/x4fxqBC9xK#GoBruins | #UCLAvsOSU pic.twitter.com/ma3D0A5aXA
The Bruins went on to hold the Beavers without a shot until the final second of regulation, when Don Tchilao sent a header over the bar as time expired.
UCLA hits the road next week, playing at San Diego State on Saturday night in the team's lone contest of the week.
Listen to Kike Poleo's post-game thoughts after today's 1-0 win over Oregon State!https://t.co/qk7DWBSy6n#GoBruins
— UCLA Men's Soccer (@UCLAMSoccer) October 7, 2018
Team Stats
Poleo, Kike (1)
Assisted By: Hundley, Matt
ricochet off left post into right corner
78:05
