Men’s soccer begins season with high-scoring win on the road
Redshirt senior Brian Illoski scored his first two goals of the year in UCLA’s season opener Friday against the University of San Francisco. The Bruins took home a win in their first match with a final score of 5-3. (Michael Zshornack/Photo editor)
By Nicholas Yekikian
Aug. 28, 2017 2:05 a.m.
No. 21 UCLA men’s soccer (1-0) opened up its season Friday night at the University of San Francisco, and the Bruin’s offense was on top from the first whistle to the last.
UCLA outshot USF 13 to 8 and came home from game one with a 5-3 victory under its belt.
The scoring was opened up early by redshirt sophomore Blayne Martinez.
At 16 minutes into the first half, the forward took hold of a high pass from junior defender Erik Holt and chipped the ball over the head of the Dons’ goalkeeper, Ruben Stuiver.
The second goal of the match came from freshman midfielder Eirik Baekklund in the form of an unassisted shot to the far corner behind Stuiver, and less than 60 seconds later USF’s Manny Padilla fouled redshirt senior midfielder Brian Illoski in the keeper’s box.
A yellow card granted Illoski UCLA’s first penalty kick goal of the season, making the score 3-0 by the end of the first half.But the onslaught from UCLA didn’t stop at halftime.
After the start of the second half Illoski picked up where he left off. With five minutes of the second half starting he took a low cross from sophomore defender Alex Knox and slotted in the Bruins’ fourth goal of the night.
Two quick goals by the Dons’ Leon Schwarzer cut the Bruins’ lead in half, but the Bruins quickly responded and an unassisted goal by freshman forward Santiago Herrera put UCLA back up by three.
The final goal of the night came from USF’s midfielder Santiago Digiuseppe in the 82nd minute of the match.
Including their two exhibition matches, the Bruins are undefeated this year and their season continues Friday on the road against the University of Maryland.
