In only their second game of the season, the Bruins met their second ranked opponent.

But unlike the team’s first matchup against No. 11 Loyola Marymount, No. 21 UCLA men’s soccer tied No. 18 James Madison on Sunday night at Wallis Annenberg Stadium. Despite strong efforts from both teams, the Bruins’ second official game of the season remained scoreless.

“This team’s organized differently, and I think we controlled the game in a lot of ways, even without the ball,” said head coach Ryan Jorden. “The moments that we had it, I thought we were reasonably good. … At the end of it, I’m pleased with where we’re at because we exerted control over the game.”

After a slow start, a 32nd-minute shot by senior forward Andre Ochoa nearly broke the 0-0 deadlock, but a miscalculated slide sent the ball rolling just behind his feet.

Minutes later, graduate student midfielder Edrey Caceres booted the ball just past the left post. Caceres, a transfer from Marquette, scored both of UCLA’s goals against LMU just a few days earlier.

“We just got to be more clinical when we get into the final third,” Caceres said. “Especially that first chance that I got in the first half, I got to put it away. But we look forward … and improve the ways we can.”

The Bruins had a total of four shots in the first half compared to the Dukes’ three.

Starting in goal, sophomore goalkeeper Wyatt Nelson made his first appearance this season. After starting in eight games during his freshman season, Nelson started and played in the net for the entire game against JMU. Junior goalkeeper Sam Joseph started in 10 games last season and started in the Bruins’ first game of the season against LMU.

“We have a great goalkeeping group, … and I always welcome competition,” Nelson said. “Even though me and Sam are switching, Lucca (freshman goalkeeper Lucca Adams) is going to come into that rotation.”

The second half kicked off with another shot by Caceres, but this time toward the left-center of the net. But to the crowd’s dismay, the ball was blocked by Dukes’ goalkeeper Sebastian Conlon, causing the already excited team to let out a joint sigh.

By the end of the game, JMU edged out UCLA in shots, 10 to nine.

“I’m looking forward to Portland. I think it’s going to be a good game, but I think we’re ready,” Caceres said. “All we can do is recover and try to be back and get the win.”

Continuing its home gameplay, UCLA will face No. 22 Portland on Friday.