UCLA Women’s Soccer: Bruins Host Arizona State
The Bruins are coming off a comeback 2-2 draw versus Southern Cal last weekend.
The #3 ranked UCLA women’s soccer team (8-0-1) faces the #21 ranked Arizona State Sun Devils (6-1-2) tonight at Wallis Annenberg Stadium. Kickoff is at 7 pm PT.
UCLA is coming off a 2-2 draw to Southern Cal last weekend, while ASU dropped its first game of the season, 1-0, last Friday night to their rivals, the Arizona Wildcats. The Bruins are unbeaten at home in their last 13 games.
Last Time Out
Last Friday night was a roller coaster ride for UCLA, which had the lead, lost it, and then drew the Trojans with a late goal.
The Bruins open the scoring in the 18th minute, after senior forward Kennedy Faulkner was fouled in the penalty box. Marley Canales converted the penalty, and the Bruins led 1-0.
The Trojans tied the game in the 38th minute on a Tara McKeown goal. The teams would go into the dressing room at the half on level terms.
Southern Cal, however, would take a 2-1 lead in the 68th minute. It was McKeown again, this time assisted by Penelope Hocking.
Things were looking grim for the Bruins until, in the 86 minute, freshman Reilyn Turner found the back of the net. Two minutes earlier, UCLA goalkeeper Lauren Brzykcy stopped Hocking cold in a 1 vs. 1 breakaway situation, to preserve the one-goal margin.
Neither team would score in overtime, but both sides had chances. Southern Cal’s Hocking hit the crossbar just seconds into overtime, and, in the 104th minute, UCLA’s Turner almost netted the game-winner and a brace but couldn’t get a toe on the ball in front of net. The game would end in a hard-fought draw.
Arizona State Sun Devils
The Sun Devils are having a nice season. Aside from the loss to Arizona last weekend, the only other blemishes on their record are a pair of draws to Oregon and Washington.
ASU has scored 18 goals and only conceded six, so they have offensive firepower as well as a solid defense. Nicole Douglas has eight of those goals, while Olivia Nguyen has four, with the two of them accounting for two-thirds of the Sun Devils’ goals. This should be the focus of UCLA’s defense.
ASU ‘keeper Giulia Cascapera, who has played in all but one games for ASU this season, has 24 saves, only allowed five goals, and has four clean sheets. She will start versus UCLA.
Outlook
This is going to be another tough match for UCLA. The Bruins were, frankly, outplayed by the Trojans last weekend (20 shots to 14, 12-6 on frame), but I do not expect UCLA to be relatively flat for a 2nd straight game. I do, however think that the score line will be very, very close. Let’s call it 1-0, Bruins.
This is your UCLA women’s soccer versus Arizona State Sun Devils game thread.
#3 UCLA Women’s Soccer (8-0-1, 5-0-0)
Opponent: #21 Arizona State Sun Devils (6-1-2, 2-0-2)
Game Time: 7:00 pm PT, Friday, March 26, 2021
Where: Wallis Annenberg Stadium, Los Angeles, CA
Live TV: Pac-12 Networks Arizona with Brian Webber
Live Stream: Pac-12.com and the Pac-12 Now app
Live Audio: uclabruins.com with Nick Koop
Live Stats: UCLA StatBroadcast
Game Notes
UCLA
Arizona State
Go Bruins!
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Wow. ASU wins, 2-1. UCLA conceded a goal and Kennedy Faulkner received a red card in the 84th to drawl even. Down a player, UCLA conceded again in OT, in the 99th minute. Tough loss for the Bruins.
Still 1-0 in the 66th Minute...