UCLA
4-1-0
Omaha
1-4-0
No. 11 Bruins Stage Second-Half Comeback, Best Omaha 2-1
September 12, 2018 | Men's Soccer
LOS ANGELES – No. 11 UCLA received clutch second half goals from sophomore forward Santiago Herrera and junior center back Matthew Powell to stage a come-from-behind 2-1 win over Omaha in non-conference action on Wednesday night at Wallis Annenberg Stadium.
The Bruins (4-1-0) allowed just one shot on goal for the second straight game, but were forced to play catch up after the Mavericks (1-4-0) found the back of the net first.
Forward Diego Herrera was the one who put the visitors ahead, curling in a free kick from just outside the box in the 54th minute after a UCLA foul near the penalty area. Left-footed midfielder Nil Ayats was over the ball as well, creating havoc for the UCLA wall.
That drive was the Mavericks' first and only shot on frame for the night.
The Bruins kept up the pressure after falling behind, and it didn't take long for them to find an equalizer as Herrera first-touched a rebound off a hard Matt Hundley shot in the 65th minute to pot his first goal of the season. Hundley created the opportunity with a nice move to his right to evade a sliding defender, uncorking a shot from the edge of the 18 that required a diving save from UNO keeper Ugo Tritz.
Just over 10 minutes later, Powell rewarded the Bruins' massive possession advantage with a go-ahead goal.
Hanging around near the top of the box on a corner kick, Powell got air and connected with a cross from Hundley, sneaking it past a frozen Tritz and inside the far post for his first tally of the 2018 campaign.
Here are UCLA's two goals from tonight's 2-1 win over Omaha!#GoBruins | #UCLAvsUNO pic.twitter.com/VaPW1und4F
— UCLA Men's Soccer (@UCLAMSoccer) September 13, 2018
With the pair of helpers, Hundley recorded his second multi-point game of the year and moved into a tie with teammate Erik Holt for the conference lead in assists.
UCLA ultimately ended-up outshooting the visitors 21-3, including a 14-2 advantage in the second half. The Bruins also had 10 corners compared to UNO's one.
Sophomore midfielder Eric Iloski led the Bruins with four shots, though Herrera and junior forward Mohammed Kamara were hot on his heels with three apiece.
Though the Bruins conceded a goal for just the second time this season, they once again excelled at suppressing shots, as Omaha recorded just three shots overall and one on net. UCLA has held its opponents under 10 shots total in all five games this year and has allowed one shot on goal or fewer in three contests.
The Bruins return to action on Sunday evening, hosting Big West-member CSUN in a non-conference tilt at Wallis Annenberg Stadium at 7:00 p.m. The Bruins have won four straight over the Matadors.
Team Stats
Diego Gutierrez (2)
free kick
53:11
Herrera, Santiago (1)
Assisted By: Hundley, Matt
shot after saved shot
64:18
Powell, Matthew (1)
Assisted By: Hundley, Matt
header off corner kick
75:43
