UCLA Women's Soccer Continues Shutout Streak, Notches Win Against SDSU
Another match in the books, another clean sheet for the Bruins.
No. 3 UCLA women's soccer (8-0) rattled off its eight consecutive victory to open the season, shutting out San Diego State (2-6) in a 2-0 win Sunday night. It was the final nonconference match on the slate for the Bruins this fall, and they now own a plus-17 goal differential on the year after closing things off with a road sweep down south.
Junior forward Mia Fishel got the Bruins on the board first, once again putting on a show in her hometown.
Three days after scoring twice in a win over San Diego, Fishel made sure San Diego State got the same treatment as their crosstown foes. The junior was born and raised in San Diego, and her homecoming was well worth it for her friends and family who came to watch, regardless of how many or which matches they attended.
Fishel was on cleanup duty inside the box this time around, putting away a rebound off an initial shot by junior defender Brianne Riley in the 10th minute.
Despite taking 11 shots in the first half, UCLA could not extend its one-goal lead for most of the middle third of the match. On their 16th shot of the night, the Bruins finally cashed in with a second goal.
Sophomore forward Reilyn Turner had chances to score in the 36th and 40th minutes, but was unable to convert on either chance. In the 72nd minute, Turner found herself in the way of a San Diego State clearance, and she collected it at the top of the box and finally put one away to give UCLA a more comfortable 2-0 advantage.
Turner and Fishel co-lead the team with seven goals apiece so far this fall.
That extra breathing room didn't change how the Bruins defended, however, as the Aztecs only got off one shot from then on out.
The team's shutout streak continued to seven games, with the last conceded goal coming in the 89th minute of the season opener against UC Irvine with their backup goalie in net.
Senior goalkeeper Lauren Brzykcy has played the full 90 minutes in each of UCLA's last four games and has gone 687 minutes without letting in a goal dating back to last season. Brzykcy had a low-key night in goal Sunday though, as San Diego State didn't record a single shot until the 50th minute.
While that attempt was on goal, the Aztecs' only other two shots of the night in the 63rd and 89th minutes were off target.
Through eight games last season, the Bruins were without a loss and had only conceded three goals. UCLA managed to outdo itself to open the second 2021 campaign by posting an identical 8-0 record while only allowing one goal.
UCLA has now closed out nonconference play undefeated, doing so for the first time in a full season since the 2017 NCAA championship year.
The Bruins will return home for a one-off matchup against Oregon on Friday at 7 p.m. to kick off Pac-12 play.
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