Thursday, September 27
Berkeley, CA
3:00 PM
UCLA
at
California
Brandon Terwege has been a key-part of UCLA's back line this season (photo: Scott Chandler)
Photo by: Scott Chandler
Men's Soccer Opens Pac-12 Slate at Cal, Stanford
September 26, 2018 | Men's Soccer
GAME INFORMATION
UCLA (4-3-0) vs. California (4-2-2)
Date/Time: Thursday, Sept. 27, 2018 – 3:00 p.m. PT
Location: Berkeley, Calif. (Edwards Stadium)
TV: Pac-12 Networks
Live Stats: UCLABruins.com
Twitter Updates: @UCLAMSoccer
GAME INFORMATION
UCLA (4-3-0) vs. Stanford (3-1-3)
Date/Time: Sunday, Sept. 30, 2018 – 5:00 p.m. PT
Location: Stanford, Calif. (Laird Q. Cagan Stadium)
TV: Pac-12 Networks
Live Stats: UCLABruins.com
Twitter Updates: @UCLAMSoccer
BRUINS OPEN PAC-12 PLAY ON THE ROAD AT CAL, STANFORD
UCLA commences Pac-12 Conference play this week, traveling to the Bay Area for contests at California on Thursday at 3:00 p.m. and at Stanford on Sunday at 5:00 p.m. Both contests will be televised by the Pac-12 Networks, while live stats will be available through UCLABruins.com. The @UCLAMSoccer Twitter account will provide live updates throughout the games.
WEEK IN REVIEW
UCLA played just one game last week, falling 3-1 on the road at UC Santa Barbara on Saturday, Sept. 22. The Bruins took an early lead on Frankie Amaya's first career goal, as the freshman fielder hit a left-footed strike from 20 yards out past Gaucho keeper Ben Roach in the sixth minute. However, UCSB responded with three goals in a span of 6:02 to take a 3-1 lead by the 22nd minute. Sophomore forward Milan Iloski made his season debut in the contest, leading the Bruins with five shots. Blayne Martinez recorded an assist on Amaya's goal for his first point of the campaign.
DEFENSE FIRST MENTALITY
One of the national leaders in goals against early on in the season, UCLA enters the week with a 1.00 team GAA, third best in the Pac-12 and 73rd in the country. The Bruins haven't finished with a 1.00 GAA or lower since the 2014 season (0.92), and have done so just three times in the last 12 seasons (2009, 2011, 2014). UCLA surrendered just one goal through its first four games of the year for the first time since 2000.
RPI WATCH
The NCAA revealed its first official RPI rankings of the season this week, and UCLA debuted at No. 40. That figure ranks ninth among west region teams and second among Pac-12 schools. RPI is the key metric used to determine at-large selections into the NCAA Tournament. The NCAA field is comprised of 24 automatic bids (conference champions) and 24 at-large choices. In 2017, NC State was the lowest-ranked RPI school to receive an at-large bid at No. 45.
WINNING THE SHOTS BATTLE
UCLA has outshot its opposition in every game so far this season, including a season-best 21-3 advantage against Omaha earlier this month. The Bruins' smallest advantage was against CSUN with a +3 shot differential. When UCLA's opponents have got shots off, few of them are reaching the keeper. UCLA opponents have mustered just one shot goal in three of seven games this season and are averaging just three SOGs per contest.
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.
KAMARA FILLS THE NET
Junior forward Mohammed Kamara, a JC 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 seven games of the year, placing him second in the Pac-12 and 34th in the country with a 0.67 goals per game average. Meanwhile, his 4.00 shots per game average paces the league and sits 13th nationally. He sat out UCLA's most recent game, at UC Santa Barbara. 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. 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.
AMAYA GETTING IN A GROOVE
Hampered by a preseason injury early in the year, freshman midfielder Frankie Amaya has started to flash his potential as the 2018 season enters its second month. The Santa Ana native rereceived a call-up the U.S. U-20 Men's National Team earlier this month, joining the squad for the U-20 MNT Invitational tournament at the IMG Academy in Bradenton from Sept. 7-11. He has started the last two games since re-joining the Bruins, including a standout effort at UC Santa Barbara that saw him score his first collegiate goal and play a full 90 minutes for the first time this season.
IN THE POLLS
This week, UCLA received votes in both the United Soccer Coaches and College Soccer News polls. The Bruins have been ranked as high as No. 8 this year. Stanford is receiving votes in the coaches poll, but is ranked as high as No. 12 (Soccer America) in media rankings. California is unranked.
HUNDLEY UNFAZED IN FRESHMAN SEASON
With four points combined against CSUN and Omaha, freshman midfielder Matt Hundley took over the team lead in points this season. His nine points rank fourth in the Pac-12. The Colorado Radids Academy product has multiple points in three of seven games this season.With five points, 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.
UCLA's 2017 PAC-12 SLATE IN REVIEW
The Bruins went 4-6 in league play a season ago, finishing in fourth place. UCLA had an up-and-down run through the Pac, dropping their first two games and then reeling off four straight wins - over Oregon State, Washington, San Diego State, and OSU again - before closing the year with four consecutive defeats.
BETWEEN THE PIPES
True freshman Justin Garces and senior Cole Martinez have split time in the net to this point in the season. Martinez has started four games this year, including two of the past three, posting a 3-1-0 record with a .500 save percentage and 1.00 GAA in 360 minutes. He was between the pipes for the first two games of the year, recording shutouts in both contests. Garces meanwhile has started three games, going 1-2-0 with a .700 save percentage and 1.00 GAA in 270 minutes. The duo's identical 1.00 GAA is tied for third in the Pac-12 and and 82nd nationally.
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 (Tyler JC) and freshmen Frankie Amaya (No. 6 national prospect / Pateadores Academy), Justin Garces (No. 16 prospect / Atlanta United Academy), Matt Hundley (No. 18 prospect / Colorado Rapids Academy), and AJ Vasquez (No. 19 prospect / 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 (Hartford) and Aristides Costeas (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.
PEOPLE HELPING PEOPLE
UCLA's Erik Holt and Matt Hundley enter the week tied for the conference lead with three assists apiece. Holt, who entered the season with two assists in his career, has provided assists for three of Kamara's four goals this season. Meanwhile, Hundley has earned a helper on all three goals scored by Bruin returners this year: Robert Knights, Santiago Herrera, and Matthew Powell.
SCOUTING CAL
Cal is 4-2-2 so far this season, outscoring its opponents 15-10. Wins have come against Detriot Mercy, Incarnate Word, Sac State, and Delaware. Shinya Kadono has shouldered the majority of the offensive load, recording a Pac-12-best 18 points (eight goals, two assists) so far. Kadono and goalkeeper Drake Callender were Cal's two representatives on the Preseason All-Pac-12 Team.
SCOUTING STANFORD
Stanford is 3-1-3 this year, going unbeaten in six straight to start the season before being dealt a 1-0 loss by Pacific in the squad's last game. The Cardinal has allowed just two goals this year. Amir Bashti (seven points, three goals) and Zach Ryan (six points, two goals) are the lone Stanford players with multiple goals.
FROSH PAIR MAKE TOP DRAWER PRESEASON BEST XI
Garces and 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.
UCLA (4-3-0) vs. California (4-2-2)
Date/Time: Thursday, Sept. 27, 2018 – 3:00 p.m. PT
Location: Berkeley, Calif. (Edwards Stadium)
TV: Pac-12 Networks
Live Stats: UCLABruins.com
Twitter Updates: @UCLAMSoccer
GAME INFORMATION
UCLA (4-3-0) vs. Stanford (3-1-3)
Date/Time: Sunday, Sept. 30, 2018 – 5:00 p.m. PT
Location: Stanford, Calif. (Laird Q. Cagan Stadium)
TV: Pac-12 Networks
Live Stats: UCLABruins.com
Twitter Updates: @UCLAMSoccer
BRUINS OPEN PAC-12 PLAY ON THE ROAD AT CAL, STANFORD
UCLA commences Pac-12 Conference play this week, traveling to the Bay Area for contests at California on Thursday at 3:00 p.m. and at Stanford on Sunday at 5:00 p.m. Both contests will be televised by the Pac-12 Networks, while live stats will be available through UCLABruins.com. The @UCLAMSoccer Twitter account will provide live updates throughout the games.
WEEK IN REVIEW
UCLA played just one game last week, falling 3-1 on the road at UC Santa Barbara on Saturday, Sept. 22. The Bruins took an early lead on Frankie Amaya's first career goal, as the freshman fielder hit a left-footed strike from 20 yards out past Gaucho keeper Ben Roach in the sixth minute. However, UCSB responded with three goals in a span of 6:02 to take a 3-1 lead by the 22nd minute. Sophomore forward Milan Iloski made his season debut in the contest, leading the Bruins with five shots. Blayne Martinez recorded an assist on Amaya's goal for his first point of the campaign.
DEFENSE FIRST MENTALITY
One of the national leaders in goals against early on in the season, UCLA enters the week with a 1.00 team GAA, third best in the Pac-12 and 73rd in the country. The Bruins haven't finished with a 1.00 GAA or lower since the 2014 season (0.92), and have done so just three times in the last 12 seasons (2009, 2011, 2014). UCLA surrendered just one goal through its first four games of the year for the first time since 2000.
RPI WATCH
The NCAA revealed its first official RPI rankings of the season this week, and UCLA debuted at No. 40. That figure ranks ninth among west region teams and second among Pac-12 schools. RPI is the key metric used to determine at-large selections into the NCAA Tournament. The NCAA field is comprised of 24 automatic bids (conference champions) and 24 at-large choices. In 2017, NC State was the lowest-ranked RPI school to receive an at-large bid at No. 45.
WINNING THE SHOTS BATTLE
UCLA has outshot its opposition in every game so far this season, including a season-best 21-3 advantage against Omaha earlier this month. The Bruins' smallest advantage was against CSUN with a +3 shot differential. When UCLA's opponents have got shots off, few of them are reaching the keeper. UCLA opponents have mustered just one shot goal in three of seven games this season and are averaging just three SOGs per contest.
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.
KAMARA FILLS THE NET
Junior forward Mohammed Kamara, a JC 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 seven games of the year, placing him second in the Pac-12 and 34th in the country with a 0.67 goals per game average. Meanwhile, his 4.00 shots per game average paces the league and sits 13th nationally. He sat out UCLA's most recent game, at UC Santa Barbara. 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. 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.
AMAYA GETTING IN A GROOVE
Hampered by a preseason injury early in the year, freshman midfielder Frankie Amaya has started to flash his potential as the 2018 season enters its second month. The Santa Ana native rereceived a call-up the U.S. U-20 Men's National Team earlier this month, joining the squad for the U-20 MNT Invitational tournament at the IMG Academy in Bradenton from Sept. 7-11. He has started the last two games since re-joining the Bruins, including a standout effort at UC Santa Barbara that saw him score his first collegiate goal and play a full 90 minutes for the first time this season.
IN THE POLLS
This week, UCLA received votes in both the United Soccer Coaches and College Soccer News polls. The Bruins have been ranked as high as No. 8 this year. Stanford is receiving votes in the coaches poll, but is ranked as high as No. 12 (Soccer America) in media rankings. California is unranked.
HUNDLEY UNFAZED IN FRESHMAN SEASON
With four points combined against CSUN and Omaha, freshman midfielder Matt Hundley took over the team lead in points this season. His nine points rank fourth in the Pac-12. The Colorado Radids Academy product has multiple points in three of seven games this season.With five points, 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.
UCLA's 2017 PAC-12 SLATE IN REVIEW
The Bruins went 4-6 in league play a season ago, finishing in fourth place. UCLA had an up-and-down run through the Pac, dropping their first two games and then reeling off four straight wins - over Oregon State, Washington, San Diego State, and OSU again - before closing the year with four consecutive defeats.
BETWEEN THE PIPES
True freshman Justin Garces and senior Cole Martinez have split time in the net to this point in the season. Martinez has started four games this year, including two of the past three, posting a 3-1-0 record with a .500 save percentage and 1.00 GAA in 360 minutes. He was between the pipes for the first two games of the year, recording shutouts in both contests. Garces meanwhile has started three games, going 1-2-0 with a .700 save percentage and 1.00 GAA in 270 minutes. The duo's identical 1.00 GAA is tied for third in the Pac-12 and and 82nd nationally.
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 (Tyler JC) and freshmen Frankie Amaya (No. 6 national prospect / Pateadores Academy), Justin Garces (No. 16 prospect / Atlanta United Academy), Matt Hundley (No. 18 prospect / Colorado Rapids Academy), and AJ Vasquez (No. 19 prospect / 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 (Hartford) and Aristides Costeas (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.
PEOPLE HELPING PEOPLE
UCLA's Erik Holt and Matt Hundley enter the week tied for the conference lead with three assists apiece. Holt, who entered the season with two assists in his career, has provided assists for three of Kamara's four goals this season. Meanwhile, Hundley has earned a helper on all three goals scored by Bruin returners this year: Robert Knights, Santiago Herrera, and Matthew Powell.
SCOUTING CAL
Cal is 4-2-2 so far this season, outscoring its opponents 15-10. Wins have come against Detriot Mercy, Incarnate Word, Sac State, and Delaware. Shinya Kadono has shouldered the majority of the offensive load, recording a Pac-12-best 18 points (eight goals, two assists) so far. Kadono and goalkeeper Drake Callender were Cal's two representatives on the Preseason All-Pac-12 Team.
SCOUTING STANFORD
Stanford is 3-1-3 this year, going unbeaten in six straight to start the season before being dealt a 1-0 loss by Pacific in the squad's last game. The Cardinal has allowed just two goals this year. Amir Bashti (seven points, three goals) and Zach Ryan (six points, two goals) are the lone Stanford players with multiple goals.
FROSH PAIR MAKE TOP DRAWER PRESEASON BEST XI
Garces and 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.
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