UCLA men squeak by UC Riverside
September 10, 2010
Freshman forward Victor Chavez scored the game-winning goal in the third minute of overtime to lead UCLA to a 2-1 win over UC Riverside in the Bruins' home opener on Thursday. Chavez contributed to the game's first goal as well, providing an assist on Reed Williams' goal in the 80th minute.
UCLA (2-1) dominated play in the second half, outshooting UC Riverside (1-3) by a 15-1 count but had difficulties capitalizing on the opportunities, missing just wide or high on several chances. UC Riverside goalkeeper Nick Goldreich made a big save in the 68th minute, leaping high to save a Joe Sofia header off a Kelyn Rowe corner kick.
Highlander defender Tyler Wilson made two big defensive saves in the 72nd and 73rd minutes, clearing an Evan Raynr cross in front of the box off the line and then clearing away a pass to the middle. A close-range shot on the left side by Williams in the 73rd minute missed just wide, and Goldreich made a save on a shot by Chavez a minute later. Goldreich made another key stop in the 76th minute. After a Sofia steal, Rowe took a shot from inside the box that was challenged and saved by Goldreich.
The Bruins finally broke through at the 79:48 mark. After a Zack Zerrener pass, Chavez sent a dangerous cross into the box that was deflected by Goldreich. Williams collected the ball and scored his first collegiate goal to put UCLA ahead 1-0.
UC Riverside made its one shot on goal in the game count at 82:34. After a hand ball was called on UCLA just outside the top of the box, Alex Racca scored on the free kick to even the game at 1-1. Zack Foxhoven nearly regained the lead for UCLA two minutes later, taking a nice pass from Raynr and jumping over the goalkeeper to get past him, but his shot just missed wide right.
The Bruins worked quickly in overtime. At 92:04, a back pass from a UC Riverside defender was intercepted in the air by Chavez, who flipped it over the goalkeeper and kicked the ball into the open net for his first goal of the year.
The first half of play saw a few scoring opportunities for both teams. Foxhoven was the catalyst for both chances for the Bruins. In the 12th minute, after receiving a great pass from Ryan Hollingshead, Foxhoven missed just wide of goal on a shot from the right side. In the 19th minute, he got free on a breakaway and was fouled, earning the Bruins a free kick, which sailed high by Rowe. For UC Riverside, forward Ben Sperber stole the ball in the 25th minute, but his shot went high. And in the 37th minute, Hayden Leslie made a dangerous run in the box that got cleared out for a corner kick. Wilson got a head on the corner kick in front of the box but was unable to get it on frame.
UCLA next hosts Davidson College on Sunday, Sept. 13 at 3 pm.
UCLA (2-1) dominated play in the second half, outshooting UC Riverside (1-3) by a 15-1 count but had difficulties capitalizing on the opportunities, missing just wide or high on several chances. UC Riverside goalkeeper Nick Goldreich made a big save in the 68th minute, leaping high to save a Joe Sofia header off a Kelyn Rowe corner kick.
Highlander defender Tyler Wilson made two big defensive saves in the 72nd and 73rd minutes, clearing an Evan Raynr cross in front of the box off the line and then clearing away a pass to the middle. A close-range shot on the left side by Williams in the 73rd minute missed just wide, and Goldreich made a save on a shot by Chavez a minute later. Goldreich made another key stop in the 76th minute. After a Sofia steal, Rowe took a shot from inside the box that was challenged and saved by Goldreich.
The Bruins finally broke through at the 79:48 mark. After a Zack Zerrener pass, Chavez sent a dangerous cross into the box that was deflected by Goldreich. Williams collected the ball and scored his first collegiate goal to put UCLA ahead 1-0.
UC Riverside made its one shot on goal in the game count at 82:34. After a hand ball was called on UCLA just outside the top of the box, Alex Racca scored on the free kick to even the game at 1-1. Zack Foxhoven nearly regained the lead for UCLA two minutes later, taking a nice pass from Raynr and jumping over the goalkeeper to get past him, but his shot just missed wide right.
The Bruins worked quickly in overtime. At 92:04, a back pass from a UC Riverside defender was intercepted in the air by Chavez, who flipped it over the goalkeeper and kicked the ball into the open net for his first goal of the year.
The first half of play saw a few scoring opportunities for both teams. Foxhoven was the catalyst for both chances for the Bruins. In the 12th minute, after receiving a great pass from Ryan Hollingshead, Foxhoven missed just wide of goal on a shot from the right side. In the 19th minute, he got free on a breakaway and was fouled, earning the Bruins a free kick, which sailed high by Rowe. For UC Riverside, forward Ben Sperber stole the ball in the 25th minute, but his shot went high. And in the 37th minute, Hayden Leslie made a dangerous run in the box that got cleared out for a corner kick. Wilson got a head on the corner kick in front of the box but was unable to get it on frame.
UCLA next hosts Davidson College on Sunday, Sept. 13 at 3 pm.
