Bruins fall from grace with CSF loss, find solace in Irvine victory

Tuesday, October 21, 1997

Bruins fall from grace with CSF loss, find solace in Irvine
victory

WRAP Losing to Titans means team must work harder to get in
playoffs

By Vytas Mazeika

Daily Bruin Staff

The UCLA men’s soccer team experienced both the lows and highs
of sports this weekend.

On Friday, the No. 3 Bruins (12-2 overall, 3-1 Mountain Pacific
Sports Federation) lost to Cal State Fullerton 3-1. This marked the
first time UCLA has allowed a goal since Sept. 21 against
Sacramento State. It was also the Bruins’ first loss since the
fourth game of the season against the University of Alabama,
Birmingham.

"Against Fullerton we strayed away from our basic concept and
that’s team," senior forward Nick Theslof, who scored the last two
goals against Irvine to break out of a season-long slump, said.
"And we basically went back to that same team concept that we
usually come out with. In the middle of the season we were in a
little lull, and sometimes it’s hard to remember all that stuff. I
think that loss woke us up."

Intent on making sure another upset did not take place, UCLA
dominated the first half on Sunday against UC Irvine. The Anteaters
(3-6-4, 2-2) found themselves down 4-0 before halftime, and after a
physical second half, both teams missed many scoring chances as the
score ended at 4-0.

"(The victory against Irvine) was just a matter of making sure
that they refocused," Bruin head coach Sigi Schmid said. "Again,
just like with UAB earlier in the season, that we show that that
was the exception and not the rule."

Fullerton (8-5, 3-0) drew over 4,000 people for Friday’s match.
The reason for the high attendance could be because of the way a
rivalry has developed between the Titans and the Bruins. Fullerton
has defeated UCLA three of the last four meetings at their new
stadium – the last victory coming at last year’s NCAA first round
elimination of the Bruins.

Coach Schmid and his team took a great fall from MPSF
championship hopes. Fullerton is on track to win the MPSF South
region, and the automatic berth to the NCAA playoffs could go to
the winner of a match between Fullerton and Washington (likely MPSF
North champion).

UCLA’s hopes for the playoffs may lie in obtaining an at-large
selection. For the Bruins to be selected, they must impress the
committee and win their remaining four home matches.