LOS ANGELES – Top-ranked UCLA remains the only NCAA Division I women’s soccer team in the nation with a perfect record, improving to 9-0-0 after a 4-2 victory over California in front of a sold-out Wallis Annenberg Crowd of 2,237.
After the Golden Bears (5-2-3) struck first with a 21st minute goal, the Bruins scored three unanswered goals. two by Maricarmen Reyes, to move ahead 3-1. A Cal penalty kick trimmed the Bruins’ lead to 3-2, but freshman Bridgette Marin-Valencia’s 83rd minute goal provided extra insurance for UCLA, who is unbeaten in its last 17 conference games.
The Bruins found themselves trailing in the game for just the second time this season after Noelle Bond-Flasza found Karlie Lema alone on the right side. Lema fired a hard shot above Brzykcy to the top of the net for the game’s first goal at 20:46.
UCLA was unfazed, however. Not even three minutes later, the Bruins utilized their passing skills to perfection to equalize. Off a Quincy McMahon feed, Madelyn Desiano dribbled into the box and then sent a diagonal pass back to Reyes, who one-timed it past California goalkeeper Angelina Anderson for the equalizer at 23:37. Eight minutes later, Reyes struck again for the go-ahead goal. After a free kick was headed out of the box, Sofia Cook collected the ball and passed to Reyes, who once again one-timed her shot through traffic and into the back of the net for her second goal of the game at 31:33.
The Bruins increased their…
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