Men’s soccer wins in close yet confident match against San Diego State
Sophomore midfielder Ryan Hollingshead had a shot on goal in UCLA’s 1-0 win over San Diego State on Saturday.
By Chris Chen
Oct. 13, 2010 1:12 a.m.
It was 0-0 for most of the game, but there was no need to worry, no need to be anxious ““ the result was not in doubt.
Against a foe as explosive as the San Diego State Aztecs, the UCLA men’s soccer team’s confidence came as a bit of surprise.
After all, this was a Bruin team that had five players headed to Major League Soccer just last year.
In the 78th minute, freshmen Zack Foxhoven and Kelyn Rowe combined to give the No. 16 Bruins (8-2-1, 3-0-0 Pac-10) a 1-0 advantage they would not relinquish.
“We were always knocking on the door for most of the first half and the early second half ““ it was only a matter of time when the goal came,” sophomore midfielder Ryan Hollingshead said.
This has been the mentality day in and day out, and it’s on the practice field where this mental translation begins.
“We’ve been successful the past couple weekends because of the work we have been putting in during the week,” junior midfielder Andy Rose said. “Everyone is really focused and determined during training. It’s been really competitive, and that’s the best way to prepare for games. We practice the way we play, and we understand the challenge ahead.”
That challenge is in Cal and Stanford, two of Rose’s favorite opponents.
“Because of the history between the three programs, there is always so much competition,” Rose said. “Since I’ve been here, we’ve always had really good matches with both of them.”
Rose was injured much of last year ““ he went down in the second game. This season, he’s started 11 games, captained the team, and played nearly every minute.
“I relish this chance and opportunity to be playing every game and realize what it means to win Pac-10,” Rose said. “It’s also important for me to make sure that I don’t take things for granted and make sure that freshmen understand what it means to represent UCLA.”
But it must also help when there are some bonus bragging rights waged on the field.
Hollingshead battled with San Diego State midfielder Casey Mueser all Saturday night, a matchup that developed early on and progressed throughout the high school ranks.
“It’s great ““ it fuels me to play better and (it forces me) to make sure that he never gets by me, while at the same time, it’s fun seeing him and also respecting him on and off the field,” Hollingshead said.
Both are from Granite Bay, which is roughly 30 miles east of Sacramento, and while they weren’t able to go at it everyday in practice, Hollingshead and Meuser competed against each other for their respective high schools. Their talent has extended their on-the-field rivalry to venues where the stakes are much higher.
Against Stanford this Friday, Hollingshead will compete against another athlete from Sacramento: Adam Jahn, a second-team All-Pac-10 performer in 2009.
And for now, the Bruins aren’t worried. They’re confident, and they’re expecting results.
