UCLA Men’s Soccer Hosts San Diego State Tonight

After defeating UC Riverside on Tuesday night, the UCLA men’s soccer team welcomes the San Diego State Aztecs to Wallis Annenberg Stadium this evening. Kickoff for tonight’s game is scheduled for 5 pm PT and the game will be televised by Pac-12 Networks National and Los Angeles.

Last Time Out

On Tuesday, UCLA hosted the Highlanders and beat them 3-1. The Bruins scored their first goal of the game in the 4th minute when sophomore midfielder Riley Ferch scored his first goal of the season.

In the second half, freshman defender Constan Michaelides also scored his first goal of the season and his career at UCLA. Michaelides’ goal, which came in the 49th minute, proved to be the game-winner in this one and it gave the Bruins a 2-0 lead.

Then, just 29 seconds later, Milan Iloski added an insurance goal for his ninth of the season.

Meanwhile, sophomore goalkeeper Justin Garces nearly had a clean sheet, but Uros Ilic managed to score for the Highlanders at the 89 minute mark. But, it was too little, too late for UC Riverside and the Bruins earned the 3-1 win.

San Diego State Aztecs

Like UCLA, the Aztecs have struggled so far this season. While San Diego State won their last game against Brown, they had gone winless in the their previous four games. They lost to Detroit Mercy, Washington, and Oregon State while they managed to play to a draw against Santa Clara.

Overall, eight of the Aztecs’ 13 goals have come from just two players — redshirt senior Pablo Pelaez and freshman Hunter George. Only one other Aztec has scored more than one goal this season and that’s junior Tevenn Roux.

So, if the Bruins can shut down these three guys, they will have stifled San Diego State’s biggest scoring threats. On the other hand, Milan Iloski is responsible for nine of UCLA’s 14 goals.

So, it may prove easier for the Aztecs to shut down the Bruins’ offense compared to the task UCLA has in trying to stop three guys.

I think that may give San Diego State an edge here in this one and I think San Diego State will take this one, 2-1. I hope I’m wrong.


Go Bruins!!!