Atlantic water sharks stealthily track prey, creating opportunities to attack and strike fiercely.

And when those sharks return to East Coast tides, they remain as hungry and dangerous as ever.

Former Jacksonville defender Logan Hall embraced his former-Shark mentality, finding the net with 10 minutes left in the match against No. 11 Virginia last Thursday, resulting in a 2-1 upset win on the road. The sophomore transfer and UCLA men’s soccer team (1-0-0) look to make this strong start a multi-game phenomenon Monday night against Cal State Bakersfield (1-0-0).

Starting off strong was a priority for coach Ryan Jorden – now entering his eighth season as the Bruins’ gaffer – after a slow start the previous year. With Jorden bringing in one of the largest freshman classes in the country in 2025, experience continued to be a missing component, and UCLA was unable to capture a victory until the sixth match of the season.

Jorden flipped the script coming into this year, bringing in just four freshmen and prioritizing talent and experience in the transfer portal. With two of his three leading scorers departing, the team brought in 13 transfers, six of whom came from international programs, in the hopes of finding offensive brilliance within familiarity and versatility.

“You see these guys who got a bit of experience in other places be able to have an influence for us,” Jorden said.

The impact is already clear.

Both of the team’s goals against the Cavaliers were scored by transfers – the first by junior midfielder Zach Neuls, formerly of UC Davis, and the second by Hall.

“Coming in as a transfer, there’s an expectation to make an impact, and I’m glad that I did,” Neuls said following Thursday’s victory.

But building a roster through the transfer portal is only half of the equation. Helping those new pieces acclimate is a returning core familiar with what Jorden demands.

Senior defender Tre Wright continues to be at the center of that group. After starting 18 of 19 appearances in 2025 and helping UCLA capture the Big Ten Tournament crown, Wright elected to return to Westwood despite being selected 33rd overall by Real Salt Lake in the 2026 MLS SuperDraft.

He enters his senior campaign with 35 appearances as a Bruin and serves as one of the few constants on a roster otherwise reshaped by newcomers.

Wright is joined by the likes of senior midfielder Philip Naef, senior forward Oliver Roche and sophomore midfielder Ander Marticorena – returners who can provide a bridge between last season’s championship group and Jorden’s newest additions.

“A big thing our coach preaches is emotional control,” Hall said. “So throughout the fouls, we stay locked in.”

Monday’s opponent may provide an early test of just how quickly that cohesion has developed.

Cal State Bakersfield enters Wallis Annenberg Stadium off the heels of its own strong start, defeating Utah Tech 1-0 in Thursday’s season opener at home.

The matchup also brings a familiar face back to Westwood.

Forward Oshea Foster – the lone goalscorer in Thursday’s match – spent the 2023 and 2024 seasons with UCLA before transferring to Bakersfield.

And while UCLA dealt with Virginia’s technical quality in its opener, Bakersfield presents a different challenge – size on the backline.

Defenders Nikola Kostic and Ulisse Alberti both stand 6-foot-4, weighing 205 pounds and 195 pounds, respectively, while Jackson Chambers adds another 6-foot-3 presence. And on the front line, forward Chisom Ene gives Bakersfield a 6-foot-4, 205-pound force of attack.

That frame accompanies a willingness to turn matches into battles – one the Bruins aren’t eager to shy away from. Bakersfield’s season opener featured six yellow cards, while UCLA’s featured five of its own in a match against Virginia that witnessed 34 fouls.

“It said a lot just about the togetherness and the grit that our team has,” Jorden said. “The willingness to work together and work for one another.”

For a Westwood side still blending old and new, the challenge Monday will extend beyond recreating the attacking moments that stunned Virginia. The Bruins will have to show physicality, composure and the ability to play as one despite being assembled from programs across the world.

After crossing the country to make its first statement of 2026, UCLA now gets the opportunity to make another one at home.

“(This is) the kind of the standard we’re gonna hold ourselves (to) throughout the season, and we want to keep this momentum going on,” Nuels said.