Huskies snap men’s soccer’s streak

This was not how the men’s soccer team saw its winning streak ending.

On a pass back to Bruin goalie Brian Perk in the 24th minute Sunday, Washington forward Ely Allen was able to get a leg on Perk’s clearance. The ball bounced over Perk toward the goal, and Allen was able to tap the ball into the back of the net for the game’s only score.

“Flat out, they’re not as good as we are,” Perk said, “We handed them the game. I handed them the game. It’s just frustrating.”

Before and after the goal, No. 24 UCLA (8-6-2, 4-2-1 Pac-10) controlled play, getting the lion’s share of opportunities. But the Bruins could not equalize. In the 48th minute, midfielder Kyle Nakazawa had a wide-open shot from the penalty spot that went wide left for just one of the team’s many close calls to tie the game.

“It was an unlucky break with Perk, but it’s no excuse,” forward David Estrada said. “We could have easily put three (goals) away.”

The Bruins had 15 shots on the afternoon compared to the Huskies’ four and had 10 corner kicks compared to none for their opponents. After the early goal, Washington (7-6-2, 2-3-1 Pac-10) had only one more shot on goal, a save by Perk.

“I think it was complete domination by our side, and unfortunately we couldn’t find that goal,” coach Jorge Salcedo said.

The lack of scoring for the Bruins is a departure from their recent form. Before the game against Washington, UCLA had netted eight goals in their previous four games.

With the Bruins’ pushing late in the game, things got a little heated between the two sides. UCLA’s Brad Rusin and Washington’s Casey Cunningham went up for a contested header in the 88th minute. After the ball had bounced away Cunningham took a shot at a standing Rusin and was sent off with a red card.

“That play off the ball is ridiculous and it’s something that is disappointing to see in any game,” Salcedo said.

The Bruins surely were disappointed, losing their first home game of the year on Senior Day. The loss also snaps a four-game winning streak and a five-game unbeaten streak, both their longest of the season.

Friday’s game played out much better for UCLA. Salcedo’s team came out firing early, getting a goal from Estrada in just the sixth minute of play. To close the first half, forward Maxwell Griffin followed up with a redirection on a cross from midfielder Tony Beltran in the 43rd minute.

UCLA held the 2-0 lead until late in the game when Oregon State’s Mason Webb scored in the 83rd minute. With less than a minute remaining, it looked like the Beavers might tie up the game on a free kick from just outside the box. But the shot sailed right into the hands of a waiting Perk and the Bruins held on for a 2-1 victory.

While Salcedo’s team had one day off after Oregon State to prepare for Washington, the Huskies benefited from a longer waiting period. Due to poor air quality in San Diego, their Friday night game against San Diego State was postponed until Nov. 18, and they had a full week to prepare for UCLA.

“There’s them not playing the other day, and us playing, us maybe being a step slow, our passes being a bit hard,” Salcedo said. “Is it from the effect of us playing a game before and them not? I’m sure you could make a case for (that) as well.”

The Bruins remain in first place in the conference with 13 points but are followed closely by San Diego State with 12 points.

NOTES: Friday was the first time that UCLA senior defender Mike Zaher and his brother, Oregon State midfielder Zac Zaher, played against each other. The freshman Zaher came on for six minutes in the teams’ second meeting.

“It was awesome,” Mike Zaher said. “It was a great experience to be out there, to get a shot to play with my brother.”

Sunday was also Senior Day for the Bruins; Mike Zaher, Brandon Owens and Greg Folk were all honored.