Men’s Soccer Opens 2022 Season Against UCI, Virginia Tech

UCLA (0-0-0) vs. UC Irvine (0-0-0)

Date/Time: Thursday, Aug. 25 – 7:00 p.m. (PT)
Location: Los Angeles, Calif. (Wallis Annenberg Stadium)
TV: Pac-12 Networks
TV Talent: Christian Miles
Audio: UCLABruins.com
Audio Talent: Nick Koop

Stream: Pac-12.com / Pac-12 Now app
Live Stats

UCLA (0-0-0) vs. Virginia Tech (0-0-0)

Date/Time: Sunday, Aug. 28 – 6:00 p.m. (PT)

Location: Los Angeles, Calif. (Wallis Annenberg Stadium)

TV: Pac-12 Networks

TV Talent: Christian Miles

Audio: UCLABruins.com

Audio Talent: Nick Koop

Stream: Pac-12.com / Pac-12 Now app

Live Stats

TICKET INFORMATION

Tickets: uclabruins.com/tickets (all tickets are digital)

UCLA students free with BruinCard

Parking: purchase in advance on Park Mobile app

UCLA OPENS 2022 CAMPAIGN WITH HOME CONTESTS AGAINST UC IRVINE, VIRGINIA TECH

The UCLA men’s soccer team officially opens up the 2022 season this week, hosting a pair of non-conference opponents at Wallis Annenberg Stadium. First, the Bruins welcome UC Irvine at 7:00 p.m. on Thursday, Aug. 25 as part of a doubleheader with the UCLA women’s soccer team, followed by a 6:00 p.m. showdown with Virginia Tech on Sunday, Aug. 28. The Pac-12 Networks will televise both contests. Fans can also follow along with a live audio broadcast (with Nick Koop on the call) as well as live stats and updates via the team Twitter account, @UCLAMSoccer.

PRESEASON RECAP

UCLA went an unbeaten 1-0-1 in preseason play this summer, defeating NAIA-member Westmont 2-0 on Aug. 15 before battling to a scoreless draw against UNLV on Aug. 20. Junior forward Andre Ochoa and senior winger Constantinos Michaelides both found the back of the net in the first half against the Warriors, with junior left back Tommy Silva providing the primary assist on both tallies. A combined 43 players saw the pitch in that contest. Redshirt senior mid Jose Sosa and redshirt senior forward Kevin Diaz both had Grade-A scoring chances against UNLV, as the Bruins outshot the visitors 17-1 for the contest (including 17 uncontested shot attempts to close the game).

2021 IN REVIEW

• UCLA went 11-7-1, clinching an at-large NCAA Tournament berth and ultimately reaching the second round of the tourney
• UCLA’s 11 wins, +8 goal differential, third-place league finish, Second Round NCAA finish were all bests since 2015
• The Bruins went 6-2-0 to start the year, the program’s best eight-game start since 2009
• UCLA led the Pac-12 in assists per game (2.2), fewest fouls per game (9.3), and shot accuracy (48%)
• The Bruins finished the year ranked No. 24 (TopDrawerSoccer) and No. 25 (United Soccer Coaches) in the final polls
• Signature victories included a 3-2 win over then-No. 1 Oregon State on Nov. 7, and a golden goal win over UCSB in the first round of the NCAA Tournament
• UCLA had three separate three-game winning streaks, and posted a 9-3-0 overall record at home
• The Bruins had four-all region picks, their most since 2015, highlighted by first teamer Pietro Grassi

IN THE POLLS

UCLA appeared in every major national preseason poll ahead of Thursday’s season-opener, checking in as high as No. 20 (TopDrawerSoccer). The Bruins were also tabbed No. 23 in the country by both United Soccer Coaches and College Soccer News.

PLENTY OF CONTINUITY

UCLA returns the vast majority of its offensive production from a season ago, including:

• 31 of 33 goals (94%)
• 36 of 42 assists (86%)
• 98 of 108 points (91%)
• 10 of 11 game-winning goals (91%)
• Seven of 10 outfield starters
• The top six, and nine of the top 10, scorers from a year ago (on points)

UCLA IN SEASON OPENERS

The Bruins are 40-9-6 all-time in season openers (for the years in which game-by-game results are available). This year marks the third straight time that UCLA has opened the season at home. The Bruins are 2-1-0 in season-openers under Ryan Earthwith a tough-luck loss last year to Lipscomb representing the program’s first opening day defeat since 2012.

HOME COOKING

The Bruins were tough to beat on their home field last year, posting a 9-3-0 record (.750) at Wallis Annenberg Stadium. It was UCLA’s first time posting a home win percentage north of 60% since 2015 (also 9-3-0).

PLAYERS TO WATCH

UCLA had three players named to the United Soccer Coaches Players to Watch lists ahead of the 2022 season:

• Tucker Lepley (M) – Led the team in scoring last year, earning second team all-region and First Team All-Freshman honors
• Pietro Grassi (D) – Was a first team all-region pick as a true freshman after playing a team-high 1,708 minutes in 2021
• Nicolas Blasou (D) – In each of the last two seasons, led American in minutes played and earned All-Patriot League honors
• UCLA was the lone school in the country with multiple defenders selected to the Players to Watch list

LIGHTS, CAMERA, BRUINS

UCLA is currently slated to have all but two of its home games this season televised on the Pac-12 Networks. The Bruins’ 11-game P12N schedule opens this week, with both games appearing on the network.

TOUGH ROAD

UCLA has routinely played one of the toughest schedules in the country under head coach Ryan Earthfinishing each of the last three seasons in the top-20 nationwide in strength-of-schedule. The Bruins ranked No. 14 in the country in SOS last fall (.610), No. 20 in spring 2021 (.588, and they were top-10 at the end of the regular season), and No. 12 in 2019 (.609).

UCLA PICKED THIRD IN PAC-12 PRESEASON COACHES POLL

UCLA was tabbed to finish third in the league’s annual preseason coaches poll. The Bruins garnered a pair of first-place votes, tied for the most of any team in the conference. UCLA totaled 18 points in the poll, just behind co-favorites OSU and Washington.

1. Oregon State (2) – 21 points
2. Washington (1) – 21 points
3. UCLA (2) – 18 points
4. Stanford – 14 points
5. San Diego State – 10 points
6. California – 6 points

THE ALL-TIME SERIES AGAINST UC IRVINE

The Bruins are 17-3-1 all-time against UC Irvine, including a 9-1-0 mark in home games. UCLA is 1-0-1 against UCI under Ryan Earthwith the Bruins taking a road win in fall 2021 after a 2019 matchup provided the first-ever draw between the two schools.

LAST TIME OUT AGAINST UCI

UCLA recorded a 1-0 win over the Anteaters on Sept. 3, 2021. It was the road opener for the Bruins. A 20th minute own goal by Irvine turned out to be the difference, as a UCI defender accidentally swept a Pietro Grassi redirect attempt into his own net. UCLA limited the hosts to just two shots on goal for the contest, both of which were turned aside by Justin Garces.

TRIO OF 2021 BRUINS ASCEND TO MLS RANKS

UCLA saw three members of its 2021 squad join MLS organizations this winter, as Ahmed Longmire and Welcome back were both selected in the MLS SuperDraft while Justin Garces was signed to a Homegrown Contract by Atlanta United FC in the days leading up to the draft. Longmire was selected No. 10 overall in the SuperDraft by Nashville SC, making him the 21st Bruin all-time to be selected in the first round. Reveno went No. 52 overall, in the second round, to New England. Reveno has already made his MLS debut, and all three are now seeing regular time in the USL Championship with their respective organizations.

BRUINS IN THE PROS

As of the start of the 2022 college season, UCLA has eight alumni on the rosters of MLS clubs alongside former defender Reggie Cannon, who plays for Boavista F.C. in the Portuguese top flight. UCLA’s MLS alums include former No. 1 overall SuperDraft picks Frankie Amaya (NY Red Bulls) and Abu Danladi (Minnesota United FC), league veterans Ryan Hollingshead (LAFC), Kelyn Rowe (Seattle Sounders), Jonathan Bornstein (Chicago Fire), Jackson Yueill (San Jose Earthquakes), and Earl Edwards Jr. (New England Revolution), as well as 2019 draftee Erik Holt (Real Salt Lake).

SUCCESSFUL SIX

In 2022 UCLA returns each of its top-six scorers from a year ago, including:

• Tucker Lepley: Led UCLA and all Pac-12 freshmen in points (17) … Voted Team MVP … First Team All-Freshman pick
• Jose Contell: 5G, 6A, 16P … Led team in shots (30) … Had a goal or assist in nine of 18 games last year
• Kevin Diaz: 6G, 4A, 16P … Co-led team in goals … Voted team Offensive MVP … All-Pac-12 honorable mention
• Tommy Silva: 6G, 4A, 16P … Led team in GWG (4) … All-Pac-12 2nd Team … Had a pair of 5-point games last year
• Riley Girl: 2G, 4A, 8P … Has had 3+ assists, 8+ points each season at UCLA … Co-led Pac-12 with 9 assists in 2019
• Aaron Edwards: 2G, 3A, 7P … All-Pac honorable mention … Nat. Player of the Week after 2-goal game vs. LMU (10/14/21)

NICE TO MEET YOU

The Bruins have augmented their roster with nine new players this season, including seven freshmen and a pair of Division I transfers. Junior F Andre Ochoa (San Diego State) and graduate D Nicolas Blasou (American) both earned all-conference acclaim at their previous stops, and should be immediate contributors at UCLA. The Bruins’ freshman class was ranked as the No. 17 group in the country by TopDrawerSoccer, highlighted by nationally-ranked recruits in D JC CortezMF Cam WilkersonMF Tarun Karumanchiand MF Amjot Narang. Karumanchi was also named to TopDrawerSoccer’s Preseason Freshman Best XI.

FOLLOW ALONG ON SOCIAL

Stay up-to-date on all things UCLA men’s soccer by following @UCLAMSoccer on Instagram and Twitter. The Bruins rank second in the country among men’s soccer programs in Instagram followers.