First Half Strikes Power UCLA Men's Soccer to Win Over California

The Bruins won both of their Bay Area matchups over the weekend to kick off Pac-12 play.

(Photo Courtesy of Harry Bugarin/UCLA Athletics)

Ryan Jorden's Bruins kept the ball rolling in a Sunday evening victory over another in-state rival.

UCLA men's soccer (5-2-0, 2-0-0 Pac-12) defeated California (2-4-1, 0-0-2) by a score of 2-1, closing out a home sweep on the opening weekend of conference play. After beating Stanford late Thursday night and now the Golden Bears, the Bruins sit three games above .500 for the first time since Jorden got the head coaching job in 2019.

This also marks the first time UCLA has won back-to-back conference games on Jorden's watch, and they put themselves in position to secure that achievement by taking an early lead in the first half.

In the 21st minute, Cal's goalkeeper botched a goal kick, with sophomore forward Grayson Doody intercepting the attempt and sending it back into the box for junior midfielder Riley Ferch.

Ferch dumped it back to redshirt freshman midfielder Tucker Lepley, who was running downhill with a full head of steam before one-timing it to the goalie's left.

21' | UCLA GOAL!!

Tucker Lepley takes advantage of a Cal miscue off a goal kick and puts it in the net to put the Bruins ahead in the first half.

UCLA 1, Cal 0

📺 | @Pac12Network
📲 | https://t.co/O5Kb5Iaqjr#GoBruins pic.twitter.com/bbLeos0snM

— UCLA Men's Soccer (@UCLAMSoccer) September 20, 2021

The Bruins were once again putting pressure on the Bears' back line later in the opening half, and they wound up winning a clearance on the left wing. The ball pinged around between Lepley, sophomore defender Tommy Silva and senior forward Kevin Diaz as they closed in on the top of the box in the 40th minute.

Diaz gave Silva a give-and-go opportunity, and the young defender got his right foot on the ball and sent it screaming into the top right corner of the net past a diving goalkeeper.

Here's another look at that pretty Silva strike, courtesy of the @Pac12Network.

P.S. this is his off-foot! #GoBruins | @derricksilvaa pic.twitter.com/ra67Jw9sVR

— UCLA Men's Soccer (@UCLAMSoccer) September 20, 2021

The first two goals provided enough of a cushion where the Bruins could concede a goal, fail to capitalize on multiple chances down the stretch and still come away with the win.

Just three minutes after UCLA went up 2-0, Cal answered with a goal of their own from sub midfielder Shoei Honda to make it a one-score game heading into halftime.

The Bruins had real chances in the 53rd and 69th minutes, but could not convert on either.

In terms of pace and possession, however, UCLA controlled the match. The Bruins outshot the Bears 5-3 in the first half, and then 11-1 in the second.

Senior goalkeeper Justin Garces made one save in the game, compared to the five Collin Travasos had to turn away in order to keep Cal in the match. 

After next Saturday's game against UC Riverside, UCLA will have played seven of its eight contests at Wallis Annenberg Stadium. Four of the following six games will be on the road as Pac-12 play picks up steam.

The Bruins and Highlanders will kick off their match Saturday at 7 p.m.

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