Los Angeles, Calif. - The University of Arizona Wildcat soccer team took on the No. 1 UCLA Bruins on Friday night at Drake Stadium in Los Angeles, Calif. UCLA won 6-0 and moved to 13-0-2 (5-0-1 Pac-12) on the year and Arizona fell to 9-4-1 (3-3 Pac-12).
The Wildcats started the game with a shot just 37 seconds into the match. Sophomore Lexe Selman's shot went wide of the target. That was the lone shot for the Wildcats in the first half. Arizona had possession of the ball for streaks at a time but couldn't get anything from it. Sophomore Jaden DeGracie took numerous flip throw-ins and the Wildcats kept the ball in the UCLA third of the pitch for around five-straight minutes. One of DeGracie's throw-ins led to a corner kick for freshman Gabi Stoian but the Wildcats couldn't capitalize.
UCLA fired 10 shots and six were on target but senior goalkeeper Gabby Kaufman and the Arizona defense responded well to their numerous attacks. Junior defender Sheaffer Skadsen broke up a pair of opportunities for the Bruins and senior Mykaylin Rosenquist did well in breaking up their through balls. But, Taylor Smith broke the deadlock at the 36:37 mark off an assist from Sam Mewis. Mewis led Smith into the middle of the box, she controlled it with great patience and then finished the play with a goal.
Arizona committed four fouls in the half and was called offside once. UCLA committed one foul and won six corner kicks in the half.
Sophomore defender Laura Pimienta was called for a foul at the 49:05 mark after she was said to have pushed the UCLA attacker. The foul took place within the 18-yard box and UCLA was awarded a penalty kick. Sarah Killion took the penalty kick and converted, shooting in the left corner of the goal. At the 51:23 mark, Caprice Dydasco received a ball from Mewis, fired and it kissed off the post and into the goal for UCLA's third of the match. UCLA tacked on two more goals in quick succession, Killion scored (assisted by Darian Jenkins) at the 58:56 mark and then Jenkins scored her own from Ally Courtnall. Mewis scored a goal of her own in the 88:38 mark.
Overall, Arizona finished with eight shots and two were on target. The Wildcats committed 12 fouls, won three corner kicks and were called offside just once. UCLA tallied 23 shots and 13 were on target, Kaufman saved seven of them. The Bruins committed five fouls and won 10 corner kicks.
Dydasco was assessed a yellow card for UCLA at the 66:32 mark. Freshman Charlotte Brascia of Arizona was given a yellow card at the 87:17 mark.
Arizona returns to the friendly confines of Mulcahy Stadium on Friday at 7 p.m. MST for the match against No. 4 Stanford. They also face No. 23 California on Sunday at 1 p.m., which will be senior day for the Wildcats.
For continued coverage of Arizona Wildcat soccer, visit ArizonaWildcats.com and follow @ArizonaWSoccer on Twitter.
