The Bruins and Hokies met similar fates when they faced off at Wallis Annenberg Stadium, both coming off impressive performances in their respective season openers.
Just like Thursday’s season opener, No. 23 UCLA men’s soccer (2-0) won 1-0 on Sunday, this time against ACC challenger Virginia Tech (0-2). As the Hokies lost their first match of the year to Grand Canyon 1-0, both sides took a heavy dose of deja vu.
The Bruins regained their footing with chances and possessions, but the final score was closer to the wire than it was in the opener against UC Irvine.
For the second game in a row, UCLA scored 10 shots on goal against Virginia Tech, but UCLA was tied 0-0 in the final 10 minutes. Chances were there, but the Bruins couldn’t capitalize — sophomore defenseman Pietro Grassi’s diving header went off the line in the 47th minute, and junior defenseman Grayson Doody had a try in the 58th.
The Hokies scored their only goal of the second half in the 77th, though it sailed wide, and sophomore goaltender Nate Crockford didn’t have to make a save.
Then, at the beginning of the 81st minute, junior defender Tommy Silva quickly cleared the ball from the left sideline. Redshirt sophomore forward Jose Contel slipped behind a defender at the opposite end of the box, slid in for hours, and slipped inside the right post for the game-winning goal.
The Spanish trooper spun back and forth in celebration, shaking his comrades.
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Virginia Tech got a corner kick in the 88th minute and eventually tied the game with no good chances.
As a result, Crockford recorded his second clean sheet of the year, but failed to save two matches in the still young 2022 campaign. The Bruins’ back line has kept opponents at bay, with Silva, Grassi and sophomore Aaron Edwards going the full 90 minutes Sunday.
UCLA resumes its season opener against Liberty on Friday before taking on Grand Canyon — the same team that beat Virginia Tech 1-0 earlier in the week — on Monday.
The showdown between the Bruins and Flames is set for Friday night at Wallis Annenberg Stadium at 7 p.m.
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Photo courtesy of ROSS TURTELTAUB/UCLA Athletics
