CHRIS BACKLEY Senior midfielder Shaun
Tsakiris, shown here against Washington, will start
tonight after missing the last game against OSU due to an
accumulation of yellow cards. MEN’S SOCCER PREVIEW
vs. Today, Oct. 26 7 p.m. Fullerton
By Brian Thompson
Daily Bruin Reporter
In the midst of a slump that has seen them lose four out of
their last five contests, the No. 17 UCLA men’s soccer
players could really use a “cupcake” on their schedule
right now to help them get back on track.
Well tonight’s opponent, Cal State Fullerton, is anything
but. In fact, perhaps no team has been more of a thorn in the
Bruins’ side than the Titans in recent years.
No. 24 Fullerton (11-4-1) has beaten UCLA (9-4-0) in three out
of the last four head-to-head matchups. All three Bruin losses have
been at Titan Stadium, which just happens to be the site of
tonight’s game.
And, just to stack the cards even higher against the Bruins,
Fullerton has been on a roll lately. The Titans have won four in a
row and are unbeaten in their last six games.
Looking strictly at the numbers, things don’t look too
good for the Bruins tonight. But the game isn’t played
according to the numbers, it’s played on the field. And
regardless of how these teams have looked on paper heading into
their recent matchups, it seems that these two Southern California
rivals always have plenty in store for each other.
“It’s always a highlight game for us,” UCLA
head coach Todd Saldaña said. “I think that will help us
look beyond just what we’ve done in the last couple of games.
It’s a one-day event, and it’s a huge one every year.
We’re very excited.”
Saldaña’s counterpart, Titan head coach Al Mistri,
also recognizes the importance of tonight’s game.
“I’m confident,” he said. “We have a
great chance of winning. It will be a very difficult and emotional
game for us and for UCLA.”
The recent surge by Mistri’s squad has put the Titans in
first place in the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation, the
conference in which the Bruins used to play. Last weekend they
swept a pair of contests at home against New Mexico and UNLV.
Fullerton is a perfect 6-0 this year at home.
Fullerton’s potent attack is led by New Zealand native
Duncan Oughton, who has 11 goals and five assists. Three other
Titans are in double digits in points. In goal, Sean Rockwell has
complied a 7-2-1 record and a 1.04 goals against average.
While the Titans will look to keep the ball rolling tonight,
UCLA hopes to make some changes. Mistri expects UCLA to play with a
sense of urgency.
“This is the first time it could put a serious damper on
their ability to make the playoffs,” he said of the Bruins.
“They already have four losses. We know it’s a most
important game for them to get an at-large bid (into the NCAA
Tournament).”
While it is apparent that the Bruins aren’t panicking,
everyone realizes they need to get back on track sooner rather than
later.
“We’ve got to take one game at a time,” senior
midfielder Shaun Tsakiris said. “We’re not guaranteed a
spot in the playoffs right now. We can’t look too far
ahead.”
While they have played very well while on this skid, the
difference has been one or two lapses that cost the Bruins the
game. Therefore, it’s imperative that UCLA stays focused
defensively for the entire 90 minutes.
Offensively, the Bruins are looking to spread out their attack
and find help for Player of the Year candidate McKinley Tennyson
Jr.
“We’ve got young people playing up front with
“˜Kei’ (Tennyson) and some inexperience,”
Saldaña said. “What we’re trying to focus on for
those other players besides “˜Kei’ is just to be very
active, to put yourself in dangerous positions, go for it when you
see it, don’t hesitate, and don’t wait for
“˜Kei’ to score.
The Bruins should be bolstered by the return of their captain,
defender Ryan Lee, who is returning from a hamstring injury.
Midfielder Caleb Westbay is also healthy again and will start, as
will Tsakiris, who returns to the lineup after missing
Sunday’s loss to Oregon State because of an accumulation of
yellow cards.
With all these circumstances surrounding tonight’s
match-up, a big game has become even bigger. The tone for the rest
of the Bruins’ season could be set tonight.