Wednesday, September 12
Los Angeles, CA
7:00 PM
UCLA
vs
Omaha
Matt Hundley and the Bruins face a pair of non-conference foes this week (photo: Scott Chandler)
Photo by: Scott Chandler
Men's Soccer Hosts Omaha, CSUN in Busy Week
September 11, 2018 | Men's Soccer
GAME INFORMATION
No. 11 UCLA (3-1-0) vs. Omaha (1-3-0)
Date/Time: Wednesday, Sept. 12, 2018 – 7:00 p.m. PT
Location: Los Angeles, Calif. (Wallis Annenberg Stadium)
Live Stats: UCLABruins.com
Twitter Updates: @UCLAMSoccer
No. 11 UCLA (3-1-0) vs. CSUN (4-2-0)
Date/Time: Sunday, Sept. 16, 2018 – 7:00 p.m. PT
Location: Los Angeles, Calif. (Wallis Annenberg Stadium)
Live Stats: UCLABruins.com
Twitter Updates: @UCLAMSoccer
BRUINS HOST MAVERICKS, MATADORS IN BUSY WEEK
After the team's last road trip outside the west coast this season, UCLA returns home this week to host Omaha and CSUN in non-conference action at Wallis Annenberg Stadium. The Bruins welcome the Mavericks on Wednesday night and the Matadors on Sunday night, with both contests slated for 7:00 p.m. kickoffs.
WEEK IN REVIEW
After suffering its first loss the season against San Francisco, UCLA returned to its winning ways last Saturday at Maryland, shutting out the Terps 1-0 for the Bruins' first win at Ludwig Field since 2009. Mohammed Kamara netted the decisive goal for UCLA, heading in a perfect cross from Erik Holt for his team-leading fourth score of the year. UCLA continued its defensive dominance, allowing just six shots all game with one only one reaching keeper Justin Garces, who made the save for his first career shutout. The game was originally scheduled for Friday night but had to be delayed due to thunderstorms in the area.
NO GOALS FOR YOU
The Bruins have been among the best in the nation in keeping the ball out of their own net this season, as they have allowed just one goal over their first four games for a 0.250 goals against average that ranks seventh in the nation. This is the first time in the Jorge Salcedo era (since 2004) and the first time for the program since 2000 allowing just one goal through the first four games of the season.
WALLIS ANNENBERG STADIUM OPENS FOR 2018 SEASON
After playing home games at Drake Stadium from 2000-17, the UCLA soccer teams have moved into a new home, Wallis Annenberg Stadium. The stadium, which seats 2,145, is located at the previously-named North Athletic Field, where UCLA played selected home games from 1967-99. The stadium was made possible thanks to a $5 million lead gift from the Annenberg Foundation. The just-completed first phase of the stadium project includes grandstands and a press box on the west side, a Daktronics LED video board and Musco Sports lighting. Future phases of the stadium project may include expanded seating, a training room, student-athlete locker room, coaches' locker rooms, meeting spaces, ticketing space, and a new press box.
IN THE POLLS
With the impressive win at Maryland last week, UCLA made a jump in every national poll. The Bruins went from receiving votes in the United Soccer Coaches Poll to No. 11. They also made jumps in the polls for Top Drawer Soccer (No. 13), Soccer America (No. 14), and College Soccer News (No. 15). In the United Soccer Coaches Far West Region poll, UCLA is No. 2. Both of this week's opponents are unranked, though CSUN was "also considered" in the CSN poll and was ranked No. 6 in the Far West poll.
HOLT NAMED TO TOP DRAWER'S TEAM OF THE WEEK
UCLA senior midfielder Erik Holt was named to the Top Drawer Soccer Team of the Week on Tuesday, meaning he's been included on that prestigious squad twice in the season's opening three weeks. Holt set up Kamara's game-winning goal at Maryland and was a key piece of the Bruins' defensive efforts as they shut out the Terps for the squad's third shutout in four games. Holt leads the Pac-12 with three assists this season, all on Kamara tallies.
AMAYA CALLED UP TO U-20 NATIONAL TEAM
UCLA freshman midfielder Frankie Amaya received a call-up the U.S. U-20 Men's National Team last week. He will join the squad for tournament games at the IMG Academy in Bradenton, Fla. on Sept. 9 (against the U.S. U-19 squad) and Sept. 11 (vs. Venezuela). Amaya made his debut with the U-20s earlier this year, participating in a two-week training camp in Spain, scoring a goal against France, and playing against the Atletico Madrid U-21 team. The U-20s are in the middle of the 2019 World Cup cycle with the CONCACAF U-20 championship on the horizon in November.
KAMARA DOESN'T MISS A BEAT IN D-I TRANSITION
Junior forward Mohammed Kamara, a junior college transfer, has immediately proven himself as one of top goalscoring threats in Division I soccer. The Monrovia, Liberia native has potted a team-high four goals over the first four games of the year, placing him first in the Pac-12 and 10th in the country with a 1.00 goals per game average. Meanwhile, his 4.67 shots per game average paces the league and sits 14th nationally. His debut Division I goal at Coastal Carolina, a moonshot chip over the keeper, was the No. 2 play on that night's Sportscenter Top-10. He has scored in three of the Bruins' four games, including a pair of game-winners. Kamara led Tyler Junior College to back-to-back national titles, scoring 70 goals in 48 games, including a sophomore campaign that saw him score in every game (he had 48 overall in 22 contests) while winning NJCAA National Player of the Year honors.
HOT START
UCLA is 3-1 through four games for the first time since 2014. This is the sixth time under Salcedo that the Bruins have won three of their first four games (2004, 2005, 2009, 2010, 2014, 2018).
STANDOUT DEBUT FOR HUNDLEY
With five points, freshman Matt Hundley led UCLA to a 4-0 win at Coastal Carolina on opening day. That two goal, one assist effort made him just the third Bruin in the last five years to record five points in a game, the first to do so on Opening Day since current assistant coach Matt Taylor had a trick in 2003, and the only Bruin frosh this millenium with five points on Opening Day.
BRUINS BRING IN NATION'S TOP RECRUITING CLASS
Featuring four of the top-20 ranked academy players in the country, UCLA's 2018 recruiting class was deemed the best in the country by Top Drawer Soccer. This is the seventh time under Salcedo that UCLA has brought in the top class in the nation. Standouts include 2017 NJCAA National Player of the Year Mohammed Kamara (Monrovia, Liberia / Tyler JC) and freshmen Frankie Amaya (No. 6 national prospect / Santa Ana, Calif. / Pateadores Academy), Justin Garces (No. 16 prospect / Miami, Fla. / Atlanta United Academy), Matt Hundley (No. 18 prospect / Littleton, Colo / Colorado Rapids Academy), and AJ Vasquez (No. 19 prospect / Mira Loma, Calif. / FC Golden State Academy), all of whom have national team experience. Other heralded newcomers include freshman midfielder Cody Sundquist, Santa Monica City College transfer Carlos Rincon, freshman defender Paul Caspar, and Division I transfers Alexis Triadis (MF, Hartford) and Aristides Costeas (GK, St. John's).
HOLT RECEIVES PLENTY OF PRESEASON RECOGNITION
One of UCLA's top returners, senior defender Erik Holt received plenty of preseason publicity ahead of his last season in Westwood. Chiefly, he was named to the MAC Hermann Award Watch List. The MAC Hermann Trophy is awarded annually to the most outstanding male and female players of the year. Past Bruin winners include Leo Stolz (2014), Sasha Victorine (1999), and Brad Friedel (1992). In addition, Holt was selected to the College Soccer News Preseason All-America Third Team.
KEEPING THEM OUT
Both of UCLA's keepers have impressed this season in their time between the pipes. Senior Cole Martinez started the first two games of the year and made a combined four saves en route to a pair of shutouts. Freshman Justin Garces has started the last two, and has allowed just one goal. Martinez leads the Pac-12 with a perfect GAA and save percentage, while Garces ranks third in the league in both categories (0.50 GAA, .800 save percentage).
FROSH PAIR MAKE TOP DRAWER PRESEASON BEST XI
Goalkeeper Justin Garces and midfielder Matt Hundley both were named to the Top Drawer Soccer Preseason Freshman Best XI. With two selections, UCLA was the lone program in the country to have two players on the Best XI. Washington (Ethan Bartlow) was the only other Pac-12 school represented.Two key members of the top recruiting class in the country, Garces and Hundley have significant experience with the U.S. National Team. Both were members of the U-17 Residency Program, and both ended their academy careers inside the top-20 of the IMG Academy Top-150, with Garces coming in at No. 16 and Hundley at No. 18.
PAIR OF BRUINS MAKE PRESEASON ALL-PAC-12 TEAM, UCLA PICKED TO FINISH THIRD
Erik Holt and Anderson Asiedu were both named to the Preseason All-Pac-12 Team. Normally an 11-man team, the 2018 iteration featured 12 players as the there was a tie for the 11th and final spot. Asiedu was a Second Team All-Pac-12 choice last year after recording two goals and two assists for four points. In the annual preseason coaches poll, UCLA was picked to finish third in the Pac-12. The Bruins were one of two teams to receive first place votes. Stanford, which took five first place votes and received 25 overall points, was selected to finish on top. Washington received one more point (19) than UCLA in the poll.
HOLT, ASIEDU MAKE TOP DRAWER'S TOP-100
UCLA's two Preseason All-Pac-12 picks were both also tabbed to Top Drawer Soccer's Preseason Top 100 player rankings. Holt, a Preseason All-American and Mac Hermann Watch List member, came in at No. 53. Asiedu cracked the list at No. 88. TDS hasn't released its Top 100 freshmen list as of Sept. 6, but the Bruins are bound to have multiple athletes included on that list.
SCOUTING THE MAVERICKS
Omaha is 1-3-0 this season, dropping contests against ranked opponents UC Davis and Clemson before picking up a 2-0 win over Utah Valley last Friday for their first win of the year. The Mavericks were held off the board in their first three games, but received goals from Diego Gutierrez and Martin Veys in their last game. Omaha is in just its eighth season as a Division I program, and is led by two-time national coach of the year Bob Warming, who is in her first season with the Mavericks. Warming has 462 career wins under his belt, the second most among active Division I coaches. Omaha is coming off a 10-6-3 season in 2017 and a third-place finish in the Summit League.
SCOUTING THE MATADORS
Local rival CSUN is 4-2-0 to start the year, with its only losses coming against then-No. 1 Stanford and then No. 9 Washington. The Matadors rank second in the nation with 17 goals this year, with four apiece coming from Khalid Hunter and Johnny Rodriguez. CSUN has the second-best winning percentage in the Big West Conference behind No. 17 UC Davis. Rodriguez was named the Big West Offensive Player of the Week on Monday after scoring a combined three goals against Washington and Seattle. CSUN was 10-9-2 last year, and bowed out in the semifinals of the Big West Tournament.
No. 11 UCLA (3-1-0) vs. Omaha (1-3-0)
Date/Time: Wednesday, Sept. 12, 2018 – 7:00 p.m. PT
Location: Los Angeles, Calif. (Wallis Annenberg Stadium)
Live Stats: UCLABruins.com
Twitter Updates: @UCLAMSoccer
No. 11 UCLA (3-1-0) vs. CSUN (4-2-0)
Date/Time: Sunday, Sept. 16, 2018 – 7:00 p.m. PT
Location: Los Angeles, Calif. (Wallis Annenberg Stadium)
Live Stats: UCLABruins.com
Twitter Updates: @UCLAMSoccer
BRUINS HOST MAVERICKS, MATADORS IN BUSY WEEK
After the team's last road trip outside the west coast this season, UCLA returns home this week to host Omaha and CSUN in non-conference action at Wallis Annenberg Stadium. The Bruins welcome the Mavericks on Wednesday night and the Matadors on Sunday night, with both contests slated for 7:00 p.m. kickoffs.
WEEK IN REVIEW
After suffering its first loss the season against San Francisco, UCLA returned to its winning ways last Saturday at Maryland, shutting out the Terps 1-0 for the Bruins' first win at Ludwig Field since 2009. Mohammed Kamara netted the decisive goal for UCLA, heading in a perfect cross from Erik Holt for his team-leading fourth score of the year. UCLA continued its defensive dominance, allowing just six shots all game with one only one reaching keeper Justin Garces, who made the save for his first career shutout. The game was originally scheduled for Friday night but had to be delayed due to thunderstorms in the area.
NO GOALS FOR YOU
The Bruins have been among the best in the nation in keeping the ball out of their own net this season, as they have allowed just one goal over their first four games for a 0.250 goals against average that ranks seventh in the nation. This is the first time in the Jorge Salcedo era (since 2004) and the first time for the program since 2000 allowing just one goal through the first four games of the season.
WALLIS ANNENBERG STADIUM OPENS FOR 2018 SEASON
After playing home games at Drake Stadium from 2000-17, the UCLA soccer teams have moved into a new home, Wallis Annenberg Stadium. The stadium, which seats 2,145, is located at the previously-named North Athletic Field, where UCLA played selected home games from 1967-99. The stadium was made possible thanks to a $5 million lead gift from the Annenberg Foundation. The just-completed first phase of the stadium project includes grandstands and a press box on the west side, a Daktronics LED video board and Musco Sports lighting. Future phases of the stadium project may include expanded seating, a training room, student-athlete locker room, coaches' locker rooms, meeting spaces, ticketing space, and a new press box.
IN THE POLLS
With the impressive win at Maryland last week, UCLA made a jump in every national poll. The Bruins went from receiving votes in the United Soccer Coaches Poll to No. 11. They also made jumps in the polls for Top Drawer Soccer (No. 13), Soccer America (No. 14), and College Soccer News (No. 15). In the United Soccer Coaches Far West Region poll, UCLA is No. 2. Both of this week's opponents are unranked, though CSUN was "also considered" in the CSN poll and was ranked No. 6 in the Far West poll.
HOLT NAMED TO TOP DRAWER'S TEAM OF THE WEEK
UCLA senior midfielder Erik Holt was named to the Top Drawer Soccer Team of the Week on Tuesday, meaning he's been included on that prestigious squad twice in the season's opening three weeks. Holt set up Kamara's game-winning goal at Maryland and was a key piece of the Bruins' defensive efforts as they shut out the Terps for the squad's third shutout in four games. Holt leads the Pac-12 with three assists this season, all on Kamara tallies.
AMAYA CALLED UP TO U-20 NATIONAL TEAM
UCLA freshman midfielder Frankie Amaya received a call-up the U.S. U-20 Men's National Team last week. He will join the squad for tournament games at the IMG Academy in Bradenton, Fla. on Sept. 9 (against the U.S. U-19 squad) and Sept. 11 (vs. Venezuela). Amaya made his debut with the U-20s earlier this year, participating in a two-week training camp in Spain, scoring a goal against France, and playing against the Atletico Madrid U-21 team. The U-20s are in the middle of the 2019 World Cup cycle with the CONCACAF U-20 championship on the horizon in November.
KAMARA DOESN'T MISS A BEAT IN D-I TRANSITION
Junior forward Mohammed Kamara, a junior college transfer, has immediately proven himself as one of top goalscoring threats in Division I soccer. The Monrovia, Liberia native has potted a team-high four goals over the first four games of the year, placing him first in the Pac-12 and 10th in the country with a 1.00 goals per game average. Meanwhile, his 4.67 shots per game average paces the league and sits 14th nationally. His debut Division I goal at Coastal Carolina, a moonshot chip over the keeper, was the No. 2 play on that night's Sportscenter Top-10. He has scored in three of the Bruins' four games, including a pair of game-winners. Kamara led Tyler Junior College to back-to-back national titles, scoring 70 goals in 48 games, including a sophomore campaign that saw him score in every game (he had 48 overall in 22 contests) while winning NJCAA National Player of the Year honors.
HOT START
UCLA is 3-1 through four games for the first time since 2014. This is the sixth time under Salcedo that the Bruins have won three of their first four games (2004, 2005, 2009, 2010, 2014, 2018).
STANDOUT DEBUT FOR HUNDLEY
With five points, freshman Matt Hundley led UCLA to a 4-0 win at Coastal Carolina on opening day. That two goal, one assist effort made him just the third Bruin in the last five years to record five points in a game, the first to do so on Opening Day since current assistant coach Matt Taylor had a trick in 2003, and the only Bruin frosh this millenium with five points on Opening Day.
BRUINS BRING IN NATION'S TOP RECRUITING CLASS
Featuring four of the top-20 ranked academy players in the country, UCLA's 2018 recruiting class was deemed the best in the country by Top Drawer Soccer. This is the seventh time under Salcedo that UCLA has brought in the top class in the nation. Standouts include 2017 NJCAA National Player of the Year Mohammed Kamara (Monrovia, Liberia / Tyler JC) and freshmen Frankie Amaya (No. 6 national prospect / Santa Ana, Calif. / Pateadores Academy), Justin Garces (No. 16 prospect / Miami, Fla. / Atlanta United Academy), Matt Hundley (No. 18 prospect / Littleton, Colo / Colorado Rapids Academy), and AJ Vasquez (No. 19 prospect / Mira Loma, Calif. / FC Golden State Academy), all of whom have national team experience. Other heralded newcomers include freshman midfielder Cody Sundquist, Santa Monica City College transfer Carlos Rincon, freshman defender Paul Caspar, and Division I transfers Alexis Triadis (MF, Hartford) and Aristides Costeas (GK, St. John's).
HOLT RECEIVES PLENTY OF PRESEASON RECOGNITION
One of UCLA's top returners, senior defender Erik Holt received plenty of preseason publicity ahead of his last season in Westwood. Chiefly, he was named to the MAC Hermann Award Watch List. The MAC Hermann Trophy is awarded annually to the most outstanding male and female players of the year. Past Bruin winners include Leo Stolz (2014), Sasha Victorine (1999), and Brad Friedel (1992). In addition, Holt was selected to the College Soccer News Preseason All-America Third Team.
KEEPING THEM OUT
Both of UCLA's keepers have impressed this season in their time between the pipes. Senior Cole Martinez started the first two games of the year and made a combined four saves en route to a pair of shutouts. Freshman Justin Garces has started the last two, and has allowed just one goal. Martinez leads the Pac-12 with a perfect GAA and save percentage, while Garces ranks third in the league in both categories (0.50 GAA, .800 save percentage).
FROSH PAIR MAKE TOP DRAWER PRESEASON BEST XI
Goalkeeper Justin Garces and midfielder Matt Hundley both were named to the Top Drawer Soccer Preseason Freshman Best XI. With two selections, UCLA was the lone program in the country to have two players on the Best XI. Washington (Ethan Bartlow) was the only other Pac-12 school represented.Two key members of the top recruiting class in the country, Garces and Hundley have significant experience with the U.S. National Team. Both were members of the U-17 Residency Program, and both ended their academy careers inside the top-20 of the IMG Academy Top-150, with Garces coming in at No. 16 and Hundley at No. 18.
PAIR OF BRUINS MAKE PRESEASON ALL-PAC-12 TEAM, UCLA PICKED TO FINISH THIRD
Erik Holt and Anderson Asiedu were both named to the Preseason All-Pac-12 Team. Normally an 11-man team, the 2018 iteration featured 12 players as the there was a tie for the 11th and final spot. Asiedu was a Second Team All-Pac-12 choice last year after recording two goals and two assists for four points. In the annual preseason coaches poll, UCLA was picked to finish third in the Pac-12. The Bruins were one of two teams to receive first place votes. Stanford, which took five first place votes and received 25 overall points, was selected to finish on top. Washington received one more point (19) than UCLA in the poll.
HOLT, ASIEDU MAKE TOP DRAWER'S TOP-100
UCLA's two Preseason All-Pac-12 picks were both also tabbed to Top Drawer Soccer's Preseason Top 100 player rankings. Holt, a Preseason All-American and Mac Hermann Watch List member, came in at No. 53. Asiedu cracked the list at No. 88. TDS hasn't released its Top 100 freshmen list as of Sept. 6, but the Bruins are bound to have multiple athletes included on that list.
SCOUTING THE MAVERICKS
Omaha is 1-3-0 this season, dropping contests against ranked opponents UC Davis and Clemson before picking up a 2-0 win over Utah Valley last Friday for their first win of the year. The Mavericks were held off the board in their first three games, but received goals from Diego Gutierrez and Martin Veys in their last game. Omaha is in just its eighth season as a Division I program, and is led by two-time national coach of the year Bob Warming, who is in her first season with the Mavericks. Warming has 462 career wins under his belt, the second most among active Division I coaches. Omaha is coming off a 10-6-3 season in 2017 and a third-place finish in the Summit League.
SCOUTING THE MATADORS
Local rival CSUN is 4-2-0 to start the year, with its only losses coming against then-No. 1 Stanford and then No. 9 Washington. The Matadors rank second in the nation with 17 goals this year, with four apiece coming from Khalid Hunter and Johnny Rodriguez. CSUN has the second-best winning percentage in the Big West Conference behind No. 17 UC Davis. Rodriguez was named the Big West Offensive Player of the Week on Monday after scoring a combined three goals against Washington and Seattle. CSUN was 10-9-2 last year, and bowed out in the semifinals of the Big West Tournament.
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