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#8 UCLA Men's Soccer Battles Cal State Northridge

UCLA (2-1-1) is ranked #8 by topdrawersoccer.com after its convincing 6-1 win over Akron last Monday.

By orlandobruin
@UCLAMSoccer

It has been a week since the UCLA Men's Soccer team took down Akron in convincing fashion, 6-1, last Monday night. After having some challenges offensively earlier in the season, a six goal explosion might have gotten the Bruin offense back on track. Tonight, UCLA faces Cal State Northridge at Drake Stadium. Here are the details about tonight's game:

Opponent: Cal State Northridge

When: September 12, 2016, at 7:00 p.m. PT

Where: Drake Stadium

How to Follow: No TV; Live Audio

CAL STATE NORTHRIDGE

The Matadors (2-2) are coming off a Friday night home loss to Southern Illinois Edwardsville, 1-0. SIEU scored the only goal of the game off a penalty kick in the 5th minute.

CSUN has been outshot by its opponents, 57-37, and also trails its opponents in shots on goal, 25-16. The Bruin offense, which rounded into form against Akron, has the capability of making it a very long night for Northridge and its goalkeeper, Kevin Marquez.

UCLA will be CSUN's toughest matchup of the season so the Matadors will come into the game with nothing to lose.

UCLA

Until the Akron game, UCLA was struggling on offense. And fans were wondering why junior forward Abu Danladi had not played a minute of UCLA's prior three games. Well, Danladi made his presence felt against the Zips, coming off the bench to score two goals in 11 seconds, to push UCLA's 2-0 lead to 4-0.

Blaine Martinez scored 21 seconds after Danladi's second goal, setting an NCAA record for three goals scored in 32 seconds. Here are the three record setting goals:

Jackson Yueill also had a fine game against Akron, recording four assists, including the assists on the goals scored by Danladi. Here is one of his four, a beautiful give-and-go back heel pass to Jose Hernandez:

UCLA's goal leader from 2015, Seyi Adekoya also opened his account against Akron, putting UCLA up 1-0 in the 20th minute.

If Danladi, Yueill, and Adekoya are clicking, look out because goals will be scored.

It might seem like nitpicking in he wake of a 6-1 victory, but the Bruins must get better distributing the ball in their own third. UCLA is committing too many turnovers too close to goal and, if UCLA cannot resolve the issue, it will burn the team at some point this season.

PREDICTION

UCLA should win this game convincingly, as long as the team is not looking forward to Saturday's contest against UCSB. I predict a 4-0 win, with a clean sheet for UCLA goalkeeper, Juan Cervantes.

Go Bruins!!!

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