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MEN'S SOCCER FALLS AT UCLA IN SECOND ROUND OF NCAA TOURNAMENT
11/21/2010
Ernesto Carranza scored his seventh goal of the season for Sacramento State.
LOS ANGELES — The Sacramento State men’s soccer team battled No. 8 ranked UCLA to a scoreless first half but the Bruins turned it on in the second period as the Hornets fell 4-1 in the second round of the 2010 NCAA Men’s Soccer Championships at Drake Stadium.
It was the second-straight season where the Hornets were eliminated in the second round (final 32) of the NCAA Tournament by UCLA on the road. The Hornets finish the season as Mountain Pacific Sports Federation Tournament champions with a 11-5-7 mark after winning five of their last six games, including a 2-1 victory over Santa Clara in the opening round of the NCAA tournament. The Hornets also maintained their amazing home unbeaten streak throughout the 2010 campaign, with a 16-0-5 mark at Hornet Soccer Field dating back to the 2008 season.
On Sunday night against UCLA, it was a back-and-forth battle in the first half before the Bruins exploded after the break. UCLA didn’t take its first shot until the 14th minute, but it was a good one as Victor Chavez ripped a shot on a breakaway that Sacramento State keeper Cesar Castillo deflected over the net.
In the 18th minute Ernesto Carranza dribbled down the far side of the field before cutting into the box where his shot to the near post beat the keeper but was cleared off the line by a UCLA defender. In the 29th minute the Hornets had another excellent chance, when Gabriel Silveira stole the ball away in the midfield and moved down to the top of the box before finding Chris Bettencourt for a hard shot that just cleared the crossbar. Fernando Cabadas had the best chance of the night and nearly put the Hornets on the board in the 34th minute when his blast from the top far corner of the box bounced off the inside of the near post then off the shoulder of the UCLA keeper before being cleared away.
In the scoreless first half UCLA had the edge in shots (11-8) and corner kicks (7-4) while the Hornets had the advantage in saves (4-0). The Hornets had the majority of the possession in the first half while the Bruins were using quick strikes to get their shots.
That trend continued in the second half, but UCLA finished its breaks with goals. Chandler Hoffman broke the tie in UCLA’s favor with his fourth goal of the season in the 55th minute when he popped in a loose ball in the box. Reed Williams scored again for the Bruins in the 58th minute on a through ball from Kelyn Rowe. The Bruins scored their third goal of the game in the 73rd minute when Hoffman tallied his second score of the game on an assist from Evan Raynr. The Bruins made it 4-0 in the 85th minute when Victor Chavez scored his ninth goal of the season.
Carranza put the Hornets on the board in his final game in green and gold when he took a pass from Max Alvarez at the top of the box and finished to the far post. It was Carranza’s seventh goal of the season and Alvarez’s third assist.
The Bruins finished the game with an edge in shots (19-13) and corners (8-4) while the Hornets had a 6-2 advantage in saves.
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