UCLA (7-4-1, 2-2-1) vs. California (3-5-4, 1-3-1)
Date/Time: Thursday, October 20 – 7:30 p.m. (PT)
Location: Los Angeles, California (Wallis Annenberg Stadium)
Television: Pac-12 Networks
TV Talent: Christian Miles
Audio: UCLABruins.com
Audio talent: Nick Koup
Stream: Pac-12.com app / Pac-12 Now
Live statistics
UCLA CONCLUDE SCHEDULE AT HOME AGAINST CAL, STANFORD
UCLA (7-4-1, 2-2-1 Pac-12) puts a bow on its regular-season home schedule this week, hosting conference rivals California (Thursday, 7:30 p.m. PT) and No. 5 Stanford ( Sunday, 3:00 p.m. PT) in a pair of game shows by Pac-12 Networks. There will be halftime ceremonies for both competitions, as the Bruins honor their 1997 and 2002 national championship teams on Thursday and salute the team’s six active seniors in Sunday’s game. In addition to TV coverage, fans can follow a live audio stream, live stats and live updates via the team’s Twitter account, @UCLAMSoccer.
QUICK KEYS
- UCLA is 7-4-1 overall on the year and is second in the Pac-12 table with seven points (2-2-1)
- The Bruins went 1-0-1 at Cal/Stanford earlier this season, the team’s first undefeated road trip to P12 Bay Area Schools since 2013
- 12 different players have scored a point so far for UCLA, including eight separate scorers
- UCLA’s six shutouts on the season are tied for No. 13 in the nation
- The Bruins have allowed one goal or less in seven consecutive games, conceding just three goals in total during that span.
- UCLA is 6-0 this season scoring first and 1-4 conceding first
- In all competitions, the Bruins are averaging just 3.7 shots against
- 2021: 11-7-1, reached NCAA Tournament second round, +8 goal differential (best since 2015)
IN POLLS
UCLA received votes in the United Soccer Coaches and College Soccer News polls this week.
- UCLA had been ranked nationally every week until October 11 and has received votes in both polls since.
- The Bruins debuted 20th in preseason polls and climbed all the way to 4th
- The Bruins’ No. 4 ranking earlier this season was the highest on the program since Sept. 1, 2015 (No. 1)
- UCLA was ranked No. 3 in this week’s United Soccer Coaches Far West Region poll, behind only Washington and Stanford
THE WEEK IN REVIEW
UCLA played just one game last week, earning a 2-0 victory at Loyola Marymount on Friday, October 14. The Bruins scored two goals in the first half and the second-year goaltender Nate Crockford made a season-high six saves to earn his Pac-12-leading sixth solo shutout of the year. Tommy Silva set up UCLA’s game opener in the 28th minute, playing a long cross from the left wing for Jose Contellwho on the right side for the first time threw a low ball into the penalty area to Kevin Diaz, who put it home for his third goal of the year. UCLA doubled their lead 10 minutes later when a back heel pass from Diaz in the box was thrown into the net by an LMU defender. Pierre Grassi cleared a fly ball from the line for the Bruins in the 65th, in what was arguably LMU’s best scoring chance. It was LMU’s first loss (8-3-2) since September 8 (a span of seven games).
ALL-TIME SERIES AGAINST CALIFORNIA
UCLA holds an all-time record of 48-20-8 against California. The Bruins are looking for their first outright win over Cal since 2018, as the two teams have split the head-to-head series in each of the past three seasons. UCLA’s victory at Berkeley earlier this season marked the road team’s first win in the head-to-head series in eight games (last: UCLA 2-1 at Cal, Sept. 27, 2018).
LAST TIME AGAINST CAL
UCLA rocked a Shoei Honda scorer at 40:00 to record a 2-1 win over Cal on Sept. 18 of this year at Edwards Stadium. Kevin Diaz got the Bruins level with a goal just 32 seconds before halftime, scoring from a corner kick. Jose Contell then clinched the match winner in the 76th, heading near the post of a Tommy Silva to cross. Nate Crockford made three saves, all tough enough, to earn UCLA the win. The Bruins outshot the Golden Bears 14-8 for the game. It was UCLA’s first (and only to date) win this season when the opponent scored first.
LAST YEAR AGAINST THE GOLDEN BEARS
- UCLA and California split the season series a year ago, with both teams earning a win on their home turf
- September 19, 2021 at UCLA: Tucker Lepley and Tommy Silva both scored in the first half (the latter an off-foot golazo over the penalty area), and the Bruins outscored Cal 11-1 in the second half en route to a 2-1 victory
- Cal returned the favor with a 2-1 victory on October 21, 2021 at Berkeley. The Golden Bears scored twice in the second half for the comeback win
KEEP IT CLEAN
Thanks in part to a large possession advantage, UCLA is committing just 8.83 fouls per game at this point in the season. This figure leads the Pac-12 Conference and ranks ninth nationally (1st: Saint-Bonaventure, 7.36).
GOOD START
- UCLA started the year 3-0-0 for the first time since 2002
- The Bruins went 5-2-1 in their first eight games, the second time UCLA suffered two or fewer losses in that span since 2014
TAKE ROOTS
UCLA is in the midst of a streak that sees the team staying in the Los Angeles area for an extended period. The Bruins will go from Sept. 19 to Oct. 29 without leaving Greater Los Angeles, and the team hasn’t left California State since playing in Portland on Sept. 10.
NATE THE GREAT
UCLA Guardian Nate Crockford enters the week’s rankings at or near the top of the Pac-12 in virtually every goalie stat. He is alone in the league with six solo shutouts and is tied for the lead in minutes (1,080) and saves (36). His seven wins and .783 save percentage both rank second in the Pac-12, and his .83 average ranks third. He has allowed one goal or less in seven consecutive games and has averaged 4.0 saves per game in his last eight games.
STAY CLOSE
The Bruins have shown a penchant for close games lately. Since last season, UCLA has had 22 of the last 30 games (and 18 of the last 23) decided by a goal or less. UCLA’s three-goal margin of victory over Liberty on September 2, 2022 was the largest since San Diego State lost 4-1 on November 12, 2021.
HOLD IT DOWN
UCLA has allowed one goal or less in seven consecutive games since the Sept. 15 scoreless tie against Stanford. The Bruins allowed just three goals in total during that span, while going 4-2-1. It’s the second time under Jorden that UCLA has gone seven straight without conceding multiple goals (last: Aug. 29-Sept. 25, 2021; four goals against in total).