Men’s soccer kicks off conference play in game against San Diego State

For the second time this season, the Bruins are headed back to Wallis Annenberg Stadium.

After a 1-0 loss to LMU on Feb. 12, UCLA men’s soccer (1-1) will have the chance to bounce back against San Diego State, its first Pac-12 opponent of the season. The team has defeated the Aztecs 22 times since Oct. 2001 and can improve to 23-4-7 with a victory.

Saturday’s game will be the blue and gold’s third matchup – and SDSU’s first – after its previous contest scheduled against Westmont on Feb. 16 was canceled because of COVID-19 protocols.

“COVID has hit us like no other,” said redshirt sophomore midfielder Jose Sosa. “So it’s just about keeping a cool head, always staying mentally prepared and physically prepared because things like this are going to happen during this season.”

With only one shot on goal against LMU, the Bruins will also have a chance to improve on the offensive end. Coach Ryan Jorden said the team has since made adjustments to the offensive approach heading into the matchup against the Aztecs.

“Obviously, it’s very early in the season,” Jorden said. We’re still continuing to refine our thinking with regards to how we manipulate the opponent when we have the ball, and that in turn should translate to better positions for attacking.”

UCLA will also have an opportunity to start the season 1-0 in Pac-12 play after finishing fifth in the Pac-12 conference standings with a 2-6-2 record in 2019.

The Pac-12 duel will also be the Bruins’ first against the Aztecs since November 2019, when UCLA won 1-0 on a game-winning goal scored at the 88-minute mark by then-sophomore midfielder Cody Sundquist.

“Anytime you have center midfielders who can score goals, it’s a positive,” Jorden said. “(Sundquist) works hard. He’s good in and around the box when he gets himself forward. We hope that continues to translate to attacking output.”

Sundquist started in all but one of the Bruins’ contests in the 2019 campaign and recorded two game-winning goals – one of which against SDSU.

With career highs in goals, assists, points and minutes, the midfielder said his role on the team continues to expand this season.

“My goal and I think my role for the team is to try to bring what I had last year and then some,” Sundquist said. “Try to have even more assists and set the forwards up this year. This was my goal going into this season and I’m going to try to do that.”

Although COVID-19 protocols may cause further changes to team scheduling, the junior said the team is prepared to handle potential challenges during the season.

“Since the beginning of the season, (Jorden) has talked to us and the entire coaching staff has set us up to be mentally tough because we’re in a pandemic right now,” Sundquist said. “We just have to be able to persevere through whatever it is – games getting canceled – and staying focused on who’s right in front of us in the next match.”