This post was updated Oct. 14 at 10:16 p.m.
Spinning 360 degrees is generally reserved for sports like gymnastics, ice skating and ballet.
Rarely would the move be associated with soccer.
But junior forward Oliver Roche proved that twirling is not just for artistic disciplines Friday night when he did a complete over-the-shoulder spin before striking the ball with his nondominant foot and drilling it into the left corner of the net.
“I didn’t expect him to make that turn,” said junior midfielder Philip Naef, who assisted the goal. “It was because he’s a big guy, and him being able to turn like that in such a small space is very impressive. And being able to finish it as well with his weak foot is top class.”
With Roche’s goal putting the nail in the coffin, UCLA men’s soccer (3-5-3, 3-2-1 Big Ten) shut out Penn State (5-5-2, 1-3-1) 2-0 at Wallis Annenberg Stadium. Redshirt sophomore forward Sergi Solans Ormo notched the first goal, rising above a Nittany Lion defender and heading the ball into the back of the net. The victory broke a three-game winless streak and gave the Bruins their first victory since Sept. 19.
Solans Ormo notched his fourth goal of the season in the 15th minute off a header assisted by graduate student defender Schinieder Mimy. The score seemed almost inevitable from the Lleida, Spain, local who has consistently generated opportunities and leads UCLA by more than double his nearest teammate in shots, shots on goal and goals scored.
The emotion was palpable from Solans Ormo on Friday night, and it was made apparent when he jumped into Roche’s arms for a congratulatory hug following the latter’s goal.
“The second goal was to start relaxing the game, to calm down the game, to have more patience and more control,” Solans Ormo said. “It was very good for him and for the team too, and also for me. I mean, he’s my rival, but at the same time, we’re friends and we are here to improve each other.”
Naef echoed the sense of comfort that comes with having a two-goal buffer.
The feeling is relatively new for the Bruins, who have only led by more than one goal a single other time this season and have yet to reach a three-score advantage.
“When you score the first, you take some of the belief. When you score the second, you take some of the hope. When you score the third, you end it,” said coach Ryan Jorden. “So the disappointing thing for me was that we didn’t get the third in a couple of moments where we should have.”
While Solans Ormo and Roche proved there is artistry in scoring – whether off the forehead or through a feat of ballet – it was not done alone.
Both goals came from double assists.
Freshman midfielder Ander Marticorena chipped the ball over a Nittany Lion defender before it found the feet of Mimy, who crossed it into Solans Ormo to put the Bruins on the scoreboard.
And in the second half, sophomore defender Shakir Nixon dribbled the ball well into Penn State territory before delivering it wide to Naef, who sent a cross into the box for Roche.
Naef, who led the team in assists with 10 last year, now co-leads the squad this season. With this year’s 16 newcomers – such as transfers Solans Ormo and Roche – comes the need to build new player-to-player chemistry.
“You got guys understanding when he’s (Naef) going to release the ball, what type of ball he’s looking to play, the type of running that we need to get based on what type of player he is,” Jorden said. “He wants to carry the ball a little bit further. And so you know that those things don’t happen overnight. I think we’re getting there.”
Graduate student goalkeeper Kevin Box also picked up his second clean sheet in as many appearances.
The Claremont-Mudd-Scripps transfer recently took over the starting position in net from freshman Ryan Tiltack, who had been the team’s goalkeeper in all contests but the season opener.
Box earned his first saves of the game within six seconds of each other when Penn State midfielder Davy Leavey rebounded his own attempt.
Box faceplanted into the grass on the second block, holding onto the ball for a few extra seconds to ensure it was securely in his hands before popping back up.
With five saves on the night – three of which came in the last 15 minutes – the Menlo Park, California, local’s starting position appears to be secure.
Outside of the five shots on goal, the Nittany Lions only broke through the Bruins’ backline for an additional five shots.
“Tonight we were in control with and without the ball for long spells, the way I liked it,” Jorden said. “And you look at (how) we pitched two shutouts back to back in the conference.”
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