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Friday Night Lights: UCLA Men's & Women's Soccer

UCLA Women's Soccer plays Oregon under the lights tonight in its Pac-12 season opener. But first, UCLA Men's Soccer has a late afternoon must-win match against VCU.

By Bruinette88
@UCLAMSoccer

UCLA Men's Soccer

Opponent: VCU (2-5-1)

When: 4:30 PM PDT, Friday, September 25, 2015

Where: Drake Stadium, Los Angeles, CA

Audio: Bruin Live Audio

Video: Pac-12 Networks

Live Stats: UCLA StatBroadcast

Official Match Preview | Match Notes

Choosing the worst of the Bruins' four losses this season isn't an easy task. One obvious contender is UCLA's 2-1 loss to unranked UC Riverside. Another contender is the 3-1 beating that Georgetown delivered a few weeks ago. However, as far as I'm concerned, UCLA's embarrassing 4-2 loss to UC Santa Barbara on Monday is the low point (so far) of the season.

It's not because the Gauchos dominated the match, because they didn't. It's not because UCSB is a weak team, because they're not. It's because the Bruins' defensive problems have been apparent since the second game of the season, yet the defensive performances seem to be getting worse rather than better. It's not too late for UCLA to save its season, but a turnaround in its defensive performances has to start today.

I've tried to be patient with and fair to Coach Salcedo. I realize that he's trying to integrate a pair of freshmen into midfield, as well as introducing a new goalkeeper. There were bound to be hiccups in the early part of the season, but I didn't ever imagine that the Bruins would be quite this fragile heading into the fourth week of the season. At this point, my confidence that the 2015 Bruins can contend for a national title has completely eroded. I'm not even sure that UCLA can contend in the Pac-12.

Coach Salcedo has two games to sort out the Bruins' problems before conference play commences. VCU (2-5-1) is up today, with UC Irvine (1-4-2). As their records suggest, neither team is impressive. Of course, there's been nothing impressive about UCLA this season either, so these weekend games give the Bruins the opportunity to step rise above their current state of mediocrity.

It's worth noting that VCU played Georgetown last weekend and earned a 2-2 draw. That's a better result than the Bruins managed, so UCLA can't afford to start slowly--as it often does--or to have low-energy spells, or for that matter, to revert to any of the bad habits that have led UCLA to leak an average of 2 goals/game.

I've mentioned a few times now that, in my opinion, UCLA should switch to three central defenders to solidify its defense. Coach Salcedo apparently prefers to play 4-4-2, however. All I care about is that he makes it work. Through the first six games of the season, the results aren't encouraging. That has to change tonight against VCU.

Go BRUINS!

UCLA Women's Soccer

Opponent: Oregon (3-5-0)

When: 8:00 PM PDT, Friday, September 25, 2015

Where: Drake Stadium, Los Angeles, CA

Audio: Bruin Live Audio

Video: Pac-12 Networks

Live Stats: UCLA StatBroadcast

Official Match Preview | Match Notes

UCLA Women's Soccer carries a one-game winning streak into their Pac-12 opener against the Ducks tonight. Although a one-game winning streak isn't terribly impressive, last week's 1-0 win against #19 Pepperdine gave the Bruins a much-needed confidence boost and evened their season record at 4-4.

The fact that UCLA's defense held Pepperdine without allowing a shot on goal was a significant positive development after the Bruins' back line looked vulnerable in the three preceding games. It's also noteworthy that the Bruins beat the Waves without Taylor Smith. Smith has often looked like the best player on the pitch for UCLA this season, yet the Bruins produced some good movement up front and created a number of chances without their senior striker.

Redshirt freshman goalkeeper Arielle Schechtman made her first collegiate start against Pepperdine and went the distance. Although she gets credit for a clean sheet, she was not required to make a save. I suspect that Schechtman may be awarded her second career start against the Ducks tonight.

Oregon enters tonights contest with a record of 3-5, with its three victories against Fresno State, Air Force, and Portland State. The only common opponent UCLA and Oregon share is Wake Forest: the Ducks lost to Wake Forest 1-0 while the Bruins beat the Demon Deacons 2-1.

Oregon is solid defensively and unadventurous offensively. Oregon concedes 0.88 goals/game and scores 0.75 goals/game. The Ducks' playing style should suit the Bruins, allowing UCLA to dominate possession and to play the majority of the game in Oregon's half of the field. However, the Bruins have looked shaky against the counterattack this season, so UCLA's midfielders can't afford to forget their defensive responsibilities.

Simply put, this is a game that the Bruins need to win if they are going to contend for the Pac-12 title.

My prediction: UCLA 2, Oregon 0

Go BRUINS!

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