There were stark differences between last year’s quarterfinal game between Louisville and UCLA and this year’s matchup.
This year’s game saw one goal compared to last year’s unprecedented nine. This year’s game was played in reasonable conditions; last year, the teams battled on a snow-covered pitch. There was even a Bruin from last year, now-junior midfielder Michael Roman, who now donned the red of the Cardinals against his old squad.
However, most importantly, this time around, UCLA found a way to leave Kentucky victorious by virtue of a 1-0 double overtime win.
The two teams had met twice previously in the past year, and both times the Cardinals had won.
“Third time’s the charm, and it feels great,” sophomore forward Reed Williams said.
With almost the entire Bruin roster returning from last year, the team understood the frustration in losing to the same team twice and the elation in finally notching a win.
“Sweet revenge, baby, sweet revenge,” junior forward/midfielder Ryan Hollingshead said.
The game started out as a back-and-forth affair, with both teams trying to get accustomed to one another.
“I think it took us a little bit to settle in,” Williams said. “Our game plan in the beginning was to hit the long ball and get comfortable.”
There were few dangerous opportunities at the beginning of the match, but both teams clamped down defensively.
“It was a game that was obviously a tight defensive game in the first half ““ not many chances on our part, a few on their side,” coach Jorge Salcedo said.
The end of the first half and the entire second half saw much of the same back-and-forth affair; however, the Bruins began settling into their usual possession-oriented play.
“We came out flat, and they put some pressure on us in the first 10 minutes,” Hollingshead said.
“But toward the end of the first half and throughout the second half and overtimes, it just became our game. We were literally on their half the entire time.”
While UCLA may have been in Louisville territory for extended periods of time, the Cardinals still had several scoring opportunities thanks to senior forward Colin Rolfe, who created issues up front for the Bruin defense.
Rolfe had a chance to score in the 48th minute, fighting off multiple UCLA defenders and sending a shot past redshirt senior goalkeeper Brian Rowe. However, the ball trickled just a few inches wide of the goal.
The Bruins had their fair share of chances as well, including one that was cleared off the line in the nick of time.
“We had some great chances in the second half ““ they cleared a ball off the line,” Salcedo said.
“We were growing in confidence and growing as a team as the game went on because the guys felt strongly about our opportunities to win.”
Regulation play ended deadlocked with two goose eggs on the scoreboard.
UCLA continued its dominant play in extra minutes, but, despite some chances, was unable to find the back of the net in the first overtime period.
Two minutes into the second overtime period, the Bruins sealed the deal.
In the 102nd minute, sophomore midfielder Kelyn Rowe played the ball from the middle out wide to sophomore defender Pat Matchett.
Matchett proceeded to play the ball to Hollingshead, who laid the ball back off to Matchett. He then played a low hard cross to Williams, who struck the ball one-time toward goal.
The ball ricocheted off the far post and into the net, giving the Bruins the win and a berth to the College Cup.
Pleased with his team’s performance, Salcedo said, “We’re a better team; we’re a more mature team. As a staff, we prepared our team better this time, and the weather was not a factor. So we came here to get a result and win, but I’m proud we outshot them here, I’m proud that we out-fouled them here. We were aggressive; we did all the little things and all the intangibles needed to win.
“So the guys absolutely deserved it and had a great performance tonight ““ to come on the road and beat a team that’s been mature and experienced as they are is very, very impressive.”
Hollingshead summed up the win by saying, “This is the happiest I’ve ever been after a soccer game.”