Monday, November 16, 1998
UCLA follows UW loss with win over Beavers
RECAP: Team gives up Pac-10 crown, probably
west region’s top seed
By Scott Street
Daily Bruin Contributor
There will be no fourth consecutive MPSF title for the UCLA
seniors. That, along with a school-best 27 game home winning
streak, evaporated into the Westwood air Friday night.
But as they have done several times in their four years, these
Bruin seniors showed the resolve of champions.
Less than 48 hours after being mathematically eliminated from
the MPSF title by falling to No. 10 Washington 2-0 on Friday, the
Bruins rode the emotions of their senior class to a 1-0 victory
over Oregon State (7-10-1, 3-6 MPSF) Sunday afternoon.
Seth George further cemented his place in UCLA history by firing
the winning goal past Beavers goalkeeper Colin McMillen in the 35th
minute, after McKinley Tennyson, Jr.’s shot ricocheted off the
goal-post. It was George’s twentieth career game-winning goal, the
most in UCLA history.
The highly touted Bruin defense took over from there, notching
their 13th shutout of the season.
For UCLA, who likely will drop out of the top ranking, the win
was crucial after being shutout for the first time since Sep. 12,
1996.
"We came off of Washington and it was essential that we
establish ourself," said Tennyson. "I think we did that with the
(win) and hopefully we’ll continue to do that through the
tournament."
The victory salvaged a disappointing weekend for the Bruins, who
had hoped to celebrate it with a fourth straight MPSF title and
top-seed in the NCAA West Regionals.
"It was a great disappointment (to lose Friday night)," senior
midfielder Tom Poltl said. "But all things come to an end. It was a
great four years for me."
"(Today) meant the world to me," added George. "I thought it was
really important that we come out and clobber them, even though our
center midfield was discombobulated.
"I’m just going to really miss this place and everything about
it. Even the air is different than anywhere else. It’s home."
George, last year’s Final Four Offensive MVP, will forever be
remembered as one of the most prolific scorers in school history.
But more than anything else, he and his senior teammates hope to
become the first class to win two national championships.
"All the goals mean hardly anything to me," George said. "It’s
more important to me to win. I don’t care who scores the
goals."
The Bruins now look to defend their NCAA title, with the first
round probably set for Sunday.
"We don’t have any momentum right now, and that’s the only
problem I can see," said George. "But if we can get some momentum
out of the first game and come out of it with a good win, then
we’ll take it."
The Bruins will likely play that opening game with Tennyson
starting at forward, where he started today for the first time in
over a month after coming off a quadriceps injury.
"Tennyson coming back gives us a little more muscle up front,"
said Poltl. "He’s working real well for us (right now)."
The NCAA Tournament pairings will be released Monday
evening.
"When you look at an eight-team bracket, I imagine we should at
least be No. 2 and that would mean we get our first two games at
home," said coach Sigi Schmidt, noting that the Bruins’ third game
could match them against Washington in Seattle.
"I think we have the ability (to win the title)," he added. "I
think we proved in the Indiana game that we can play with anybody
and in the Washington game the second half was all ours, except we
didn’t finish."
Perhaps the seniors haven’t played their final game in Westwood,
though one day in the coming weeks they will. But they will leave
behind a distinct legacy.
"They (the seniors) have all meant a lot to the team," said
Tennyson.
"Seth is a devastating scorer and I’ve taken that aspect of him,
and Tommy’s work ethic is unheard of. Last year I came in and tried
to learn from them and even now that I’m a sophomore I’m still
trying to learn from them."
LEAH SWALLEY
UCLA forward McKinley Tennyson, Jr. fights in mid-air for
control of the ball during the
2-0 loss to the Washington Huskies.
Comments, feedback, problems?
© 1998 ASUCLA Communications Board[Home]