Forward Larry Ndjock galvanizes UCLA’s OT win in College Cup semifinal
UCLA junior forward Larry Ndjock (right) and Providence sophomore midfielder Julian Gressel battle for the ball in Friday’s College Cup semifinal match. Ndjock scored two goals in the Bruins’ 3-2 win. (Katie Meyers/Daily Bruin senior staff)
By Anay Dattawadkar
Dec. 12, 2014 10:58 p.m.
CARY, N.C. — The minutes were ticking away, nine of them separating UCLA men’s soccer from the end of its season. Having given up two goals and the lead in a dizzying stretch, the Bruins faced a 2-1 deficit against the Providence Friars in the College Cup semifinal Friday night.
Twice before in this NCAA tournament, the Bruins had come back late to win and advance. But as the Friars kept the ball away from their opponents, the prospects of a third comeback seemed dismal.
Just as the clock was about to strike midnight on the Bruins’ season, they strung together yet another comeback. Junior forward Larry Ndjock, having already put UCLA up 1-0 in the 42nd minute, stepped up with another key goal in the 81st, equalizing the match at 2-2.
The game eventually entered overtime, just like two of UCLA’s three prior games in the NCAA tournament this year. And once again, the Bruins found a way to win in dramatic fashion, scoring a golden goal off a Chase Gasper volley in the 105th.
“While (the past three games) were pretty entertaining for the fans, it’s getting pretty difficult on me,” said coach Jorge Salcedo, chuckling. “But it was a great game, and I (also) expect the championship … against Virginia to be a fantastic soccer game.”
In their three games thus far in the NCAA tournament, the Bruins have proven themselves to be resilient late in games, tallying six second-half goals. But they have also been susceptible to wild swings in momentum. This match was no different.
So when Providence sophomore forward Mac Steeves equalized the score at 1-1 on a 65th-minute header, then captured the lead with another goal in 74th, the Bruins found themselves where they often have in these playoffs – playing from behind.
And as they have done every time they’ve been in such a situation, the Bruins clawed back into it. Set free down the right wing in the 81st minute, freshman forward Abu Danladi took a shot that was deflected towards Ndjock, who notched it down into the bottom corner of the net. Game tied.
Twenty minutes later, the Bruins completed the comeback when a headed ball off a Bruin corner found its way onto Gasper’s foot at the top of the box. The freshman defender’s volley took a deflection and wrong-footed the keeper as it swerved into the top left corner of the net – a golden goal to seal the match.
Game-changer
It was Ndjock’s introduction in the 22nd minute that turned the game for the Bruins. Similar to earlier in the year against San Diego State, Ndjock added life to a previously scoreless UCLA offense. The Loyola University Maryland transfer, who said after the game that he enjoys his role as a super-sub, provided some key physical hold-up play and chemistry with Danladi.
Ndjock and his strike partner Danladi will have their hands full on Sunday against a No. 16 seed Virginia team whose defense smothered UMBC in Friday’s first semifinal. The Cavaliers are a familiar sight for Gasper, who grew up in Alexandria, Va.
He grew up playing at the club level with many members of the Cavalier squad and actually had verbally committed to Virginia before switching to UCLA.
When asked why he made the switch, Gasper simply said: “I wanted to win national championships. That’s why I came to UCLA.”
On Sunday afternoon, facing his hometown team in the NCAA final, Gasper and the Bruins will get a chance to see if he made the right choice.
