A lot of expectations surround UCLA men’s soccer this season. The team’s many deep postseason runs recently, coupled with a No. 1 ranking from the National Soccer Coaches Association of America, have singled the Bruins out as a title contender. Read more...

Photo: The No. 1 Bruins celebrate on the North Athletic Field during one of their exhibition matches. After going 1-0-1 this past week, UCLA will open the regular season at home against New Mexico State next weekend. (Keila Mayberry/Daily Bruin)

A second straight year of penalty kick eliminations for UCLA men’s soccer hasn’t seemed to diminish the expectations that surround the Bruins. Instead, it has fueled them as they prepare for the upcoming 2015 season. Read more...

Photo: Senior defensive midfielder Grady Howe, one of three UCLA men’s soccer captains in 2015, said that this year’s team will need to find its identity to truly capitalize on its depth of talent. (Daily Bruin file photo)

Coach Jorge Salcedo planned for a light training session two Fridays ago, intending to give his team a breather after a week of high-intensity offseason conditioning. Read more...

Photo: Freshman left back Chase Gasper and the Bruins had a chance to scrimmage against the U.S. Men’s National Team last Tuesday. Gasper called the experience “a dream come true.” (Hannah Ye/Daily Bruin)

CARY, N.C. — The confetti poured down on Sunday afternoon, all sorts of red, white and blue glittering in the golden Carolina sun. But oddly, it fell nowhere near the winning team – the Virginia Cavaliers were cavorting on the field, celebrating their men’s soccer program’s seventh national championship. Read more...

Photo: Redshirt senior goalkeeper Earl Edwards managed to save one penalty kick during the shootout, but it wasn’t enough, as the Bruins fell 4-2 against the Cavaliers. (Katie Meyers/Daily Bruin senior staff)