Non-Revenue Roundup: Hero Hoffman, Women's Soccer Falters, Women's Volleyball Splits Arizona Schools

For the first time this fall, UCLA fans were treated to a complete victory on the football field, as the Bruins put the hapless Colorado Buffaloes to the sword in convincing fashion, 45-6.  That being said, it was the bottom feeder of the Pac-12, so an expected victory over a laughably poor Colorado team will do nothing to change the long-term trajectory of Neuheisel's failed tenure in Westwood, despite what you hear from the Neubs.  Meanwhile, the intervening week since the last non-revenue roundup brought UCLA some mixed results, some good, but others troubling.

All-in-all, another week of mixed results doesn't change the need for us to enact wholesale regime change in Westwood.  That said, let's take a look at how the other UCLA sports teams did this past week:

• The big story is that the #2-seeded Lady Bruins soccer team was prematurely dropped out of the NCAA tournament by an underdog San Diego Toreros squad that the Bruins thoroughly dominated.  Despite playing at home at Drake Stadium, controlling possession, and out-shooting their opponents (17-6), the Lady Bruins could not find the finishing touch, only able to equalize through Jenna Richmond in the 80th minute after the Toreros went up in the 2nd minute.  After going through OT, the ladies were unable to put away the plucky San Diego side and ended up falling short in penalty kicks, 3-2.  With the loss, the ladies' season and national title hopes come to an end, in very disappointing fashion.  But don't worry folks, I'm sure our feckless leader Dan Guerrero will spin this as an "outstanding" season with "great post-season play" despite it being another underachieving failure (being the earliest exit for women's soccer in the tournament since 1998) during Guerrero's Reign of Error.
  
• While the women's team was unable to advance, Jorge Salcedo's #13-seeded men's soccer team was able to squeak out a 1-0 victory over Delaware in the second round of the NCAA tournament to advance.  Video highlights are available on the official site here.  On the back of a Chandler Hoffman goal in the 83rd minute, the Bruins will continue to take on Rutgers in the third round of the NCAA tournament, to be played next Sunday at 7 p.m. PST at Drake Stadium.

• Turning to the #1-ranked men's water polo team, the Bruins split their matches over the weekend, starting with a 9-6 loss to #1-ranked U$C (the Bruins and Trojans were tied in the ranking for the top spot heading into the match) on Friday night.  Despite playing at a packed Spieker Aquatics Center, the Trojans never fell behind, while the best the Bruins could point to was a hat-trick effort by Josh Samuels.  With the loss, the Bruins fell behind in the race for MPSF conference tournament seeding.
  
• The men's water polo team got back at it on Sunday, taking on #5-ranked UC Santa Barbara.  Unlike Friday, the Bruins were able to take control of the match, dropping the Gauchos 11-4 to close out the regular season.  Led by Paul Reynolds' hat-trick and Griffin White's brace, the Bruins finished the season with a victory to bring their record to 20-4 overall and 6-2 in conference play.  With the victory, the Bruins grabbed the #3 seed in the MPSF conference tournament, and will next be in action against #6 seed Pepperdine on Friday at Spieker Aquatics Center at 1:30 p.m. PST.
• Finally, like their male counterparts in the pool, the #2-ranked women's volleyball team struggled at home this weekend, splitting their weekend series against the Arizona schools.  The ladies got the weekend off poorly, getting swept 3-0 at home by a middle-of-the-pack underdog Arizona Wildcats squad.  The usually sensational Rachael Kidder was only able to put up 15 kills in the match, while the other usual leaders (Lauren Van Orden, Tabi Love) were below-average by their usually strong standards.
• Fortunately, the ladies were able to turn it around on Sunday, sweeping the Arizona State Sun Devils 3-0.  This time, Rachael Kidder was her normal self, coming just short of a double-double picking up 21 kills and 9 digs, while Lauren Van Orden and freshman Megan Moenoa each picked up 24 assists.  With the victory, the Lady Bruins improve to 24-5 overall and 17-4 in Pac-12 play.  The ladies will close out the regular season against hated rival U$C on Friday at 5 p.m. PST at the John Wooden Center.

Alright folks, that's your non-revenue roundup for the past week. Good week for the men's soccer team as they stay alive in their quest for another national title, but mixed results for the rest of UCLA's non-revenue sports in action. That said, three non-revenue squads in action are still alive for a run at another national title for Westwood.

But, given the abject disappointment we're seeing in some programs (women's soccer, for example), we have to keep our eye on the ultimate prize to do right by our student athletes: wholesale regime change in Westwood, meaning Dan Guerrero must be fired.

Fire away with your thoughts, takes, analysis, and opinions in the comment thread.

GO BRUINS