BYU defeats UCLA 10-6 in tough, physical game
By Daily Bruin Staff
Feb. 19, 2002 9:00 p.m.
BYU 10 UCLA 6
By Jessica Bach
Daily Bruin Contributor
Whoever said Mormons were a peaceful type has never seen them
play lacrosse. Tuesday’s game against BYU proved to be a
challenge as the Cougars used their size advantage to dominate and
at times bully the Bruins to win 10-6.
The No. 1-ranked Cougars came into yesterday’s game
looking for a tough game which the Bruins were just not able to
keep up with.
“It was a very physical game that allowed us many man-up
opportunities,” UCLA fourth-year midfielder and co-captain
Mike Montgomery said, “We just couldn’t take advantage
of them.”
The Bruins started the game by allowing three quick goals, a
recurring symptom of the team, forcing them to play catch-up the
rest of time.
“We come out slow against our opponents.” head coach
Mike Allan said. “It’s a problem for us and we are
going to have to get out of this.”
Despite the Cougars’ early lead, UCLA bit at their heels
the rest of the game, especially with goals by Andrew Lusardi in
the second and third quarters.
A goal by Montgomery brought UCLA to within one, but in the end,
the Bruins simply couldn’t pull it together for the win.
Andrew So’s score in the fourth quarter would be the
team’s last point of the game, giving them only six
goals.
Their lack of offensive action and poor ball handling kept the
Bruins at bay and were not enough to match BYU’s ten
goals.
“We didn’t work together,” Montgomery said.
“We knew it was coming and didn’t act fast
enough.”
“They have specific players they go to and specific things
that we know they do,” Allan said, “But we got caught
on the heels of a strong team and couldn’t settle the ball
enough to win.”
BYU, which came into the game with top billing, used
intimidation to heighten its advantages.
“We told them it was not going to be a game played on
paper, but in the back of our mind it was always there,”
Allan said. “It’s frustrating to allow a top-ranked
team to come onto our home field and not play as well as we
could.”
“This was our second loss to a top team, but we came
within three or four goals each time,” fourth-year midfielder
Tim Sovay said. “But it is very frustrating to lose to
them.”
Though not satisfied with moral victories, the Bruins do take
something out of their fight with a top-echelon team.
“We proved we can keep with the top teams,” Sovay
said. “We showed we can hang with them.”
“They had the numbers,” Montgomery said, “But
our guys played with heart and took the hits.”
