LOS ANGELES – The No. 20-ranked UCLA men’s soccer team opened its 2022 season with a 1-0 win over UC Irvine on Thursday night at Wallis Annenberg Stadium.
The Bruins (1-0) got on the board via a 52nd minute goal from redshirt senior forward Kevin Diaz, and held the Anteaters (0-1) without a shot on goal to record the team’s first shutout of the season.
Overall, UCLA outshot UCI 12-5 and had a solid advantage in time of possession.
“We pitched a shutout obviously, which is a huge compliment to the team and their work together,” said UCLA head coach Ryan Jorden. “We knew that one thing we had to better in [compared to last season] was the defending side of things, we conceded too many goals. We’ve taken good steps, and the mentality has been really good in regards to trying to take ground on that front.”
The score for Diaz – who co-led the team with six goals last year – came off a corner kick. Junior left back Tommy Silva started the play by playing a short ball to redshirt senior midfielder Jose Sosa near the corner flag, and Sosa proceeded from there towards goal along the end line.
Drawing a pair of defenders towards him, Sosa whipped a ball into the six-yard box, and Diaz met it dead center and headed the pass into the net past UCI keeper Luke Pruter.
.@_josesosa_ ?? @kevvdiaz6 for the opener!
UCLA 1, UC Irvine 0
?? | Pac-12 Networks
?? | https://t.co/vvgSrJP4gD#GoBruins pic.twitter.com/Xzr0G0NufH
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