Men’s soccer wins home opener in 2-0 shutout against San Diego
Junior transfer forward Mohammed Kamara logged his second and third goals on the season to help UCLA men’s soccer to its second victory of the season. (Isa Saalabi/Daily Bruin)
By Marcus Veal
Aug. 29, 2018 4:20 p.m.
In the two games the Bruins have hosted in Wallis Annenberg Stadium, the opposing team has failed to score a goal.
Tuesday night, No. 8 UCLA men’s soccer (2-0-0) won its home opener 2-0 against University of San Diego (0-1-1) after UCLA women’s soccer won its home opener 1-0 on Aug. 17.
Junior transfer forward Mohammed Kamara picked up where he left off against then-No. 18 Coastal Carolina and turned in a 2-goal performance in his home debut – his second and third goals of the new season.
“It was a good feeling being out here tonight,” Kamara said. “To be honest, there was some pressure because you don’t want to lose your first home game, especially in a brand new stadium, but the surface felt great and we got the win.”
Kamara’s first goal came in the 40th minute after beating a defender with a series of dribble moves and sneaking the ball past San Diego’s goalkeeper, Connor Hountalas. The forward’s second goal was a first-touch dagger off freshman midfielder Frankie Amaya’s assist in the 44th minute.
Kamara transferred from Tyler Junior College where he registered 70 goals in 37 starts.
The Toreros only managed to put up four shots against the Bruins’ defense. San Diego’s single shot on goal came in the form of a shot from Reuben Dass inside the goal area that hit the crossbar.
San Diego’s emotions continued to boil over as the two teams exchanged fouls and verbal confrontations towards the end of the game. San Diego’s Gustav Brandt received a yellow card in the 88th minute for a late slide tackle.
“The other team was just getting really frustrated and I think that is what it came down to,” said senior goalkeeper Cole Martinez. “No one wants to get shut out.”
This is the first season since 2013 that UCLA has held its opponents scoreless through the first two games.
“I think it’s excellent to have two clean sheets so early in the season,” Martinez said. “I think we’re setting a great precedent and I think our team is really coming together.”
The Bruins found themselves in the top 10 of the United Soccer Coaches poll before Tuesday night’s game. UCLA jumped 19 spots into No. 8 after missing out on the top 25 in the preseason poll.
The Bruins will try and stretch their opponents’ clean sheet streak to three games against San Francisco on Sunday at 7 p.m.
