Today, the UCLA men’s soccer team opens Pac-12 Conference play when they visit the UC Berkeley Golden Bears at 3pm PT.
Last Time Out
On Saturday, the Bruins traveled to Santa Barbara to face the Gauchos. UCLA started the game well. Frankie Amaya scored for the Bruins in the 6th minute, giving UCLA a 1-0 lead.
Unfortunately, UCSB got an equalizer from Rodney Michael in the 16th minute. Just 62 seconds later, an own goal was headed into the Bruins’ net to break the tie and give the Gauchos the lead. In the 22nd minute, Michael scored again for UCSB, giving the Gauchos an insurance goal.
For the remainder of the game, UCLA was unable to find the net again and the Bruins lost their second in a row by a score of 3-1.
UC Berkeley Golden Bears
UC Berkeley is 4-2-2 so far this season. The Bears lost to Santa Clara on Saturday and tied UMass Lowell the previous Sunday.
Senior midfielder Shinya Kadono is Berkeley’s top goal scorer so far this season. Kadono has scored eight goals in eight games. Three other Bears have scored so far. Alonzo Del Mundo has scored three goals while Sam Ebstein has two and Taylor Davila has added one.
Outlook
The big question for UCLA is whether or not Mohammed Kamara is able to play today. He did not play against UC Santa Barbara.
So far this year, Kamara has proven to be UCLA’s most proficient scorer to the point that the Bruins are a much weaker team without him.
If Kamara plays today, look for another Bruin win, but this one feels like it could end in a 1-1 draw if he doesn’t.
This is your UCLA men’s soccer vs. UC Berkeley open thread.
Go Bruins!!!