This post was updated Oct. 15 at 10:32 p.m.
After a three-game stop in Westwood, the Bruins are back on the road for the final two away games of the regular season.
No. 10 UCLA men’s soccer (7-1-4, 3-1-2 Big Ten) will travel to the Midwest to face No. 18 Wisconsin (7-2-3, 1-2-3) on Friday and Northwestern (5-5-1, 2-3) on Monday.
The Bruins seem to have found their rhythm with a four-game win streak, including three straight victories at Wallis Annenberg Stadium.
“Protecting your home field is a thing we say in the locker room,” said sophomore midfielder Adrian Aguilar. “Get the three points every game here is how it should be.”
UCLA’s recent home victories – including a win over then-No. 8 Michigan State on Oct. 3 – have vaulted coach Ryan Jorden’s squad to No. 10 in NCAA rankings and No. 4 in Big Ten standings.
According to Jorden, the team’s win streak is about more than just statistics and standings, though.
“Plus the momentum, it’s the confidence that comes with it,” Jorden said after the win against Omaha. “It’s your team having some identity. It’s what this game’s about, and it’s what you work so hard for to get to places and nights like this where you can win big, important games.”
UCLA defeated its most recent opponent, Ohio State, 2-1 on Saturday. The Badgers did not see the same success when facing the Buckeyes, and their Sept. 11 matchup ended in a 1-1 stalemate.
Despite Wisconsin’s inconsistent season performances – an undefeated record outside of conference play paired with just one win against Big Ten opponents – the team has shown flashes of what it is capable of offensively.
While the Bruins largely look to just three players to find the back of the net, the Badgers’ roster contains six scorers with at least three goals on the season.
(Aiden Martinez/Daily Bruin)
Wisconsin’s two leading scorers are forwards Cristobal Porter and Markie Hrvojevic, who have four goals apiece. Getting on the scoreboard is a team effort though – the Badgers have logged 23 assists to opponents’ eight across the season.
If Wisconsin’s score distribution poses a problem for UCLA, Northwestern should offer a weaker slate of offensive depth.
Two of Northwestern’s top scorers, forward Italo Addimandi and midfielder Peter Riesz – who have four goals on the year – are returning athletes, so a majority of Jorden’s squad will have already faced them last season.
Last season, UCLA won against both Wisconsin and Northwestern, taking home 3-1 and 1-0 victories, respectively.
While the squad is entering off a successful bout at home, it understands the difficulties the upcoming matches could pose.
“Two really big games coming up. … Wisconsin is (a) tough environment,” said sophomore goalkeeper Ryan Tiltack. “We’ll enjoy the one tonight, and then tomorrow morning it’s all about the next day.”
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