UCLA (6-6, 2-2) women’s soccer might be having a down year, but it sure didn’t look like it Friday night as they routed No. 15 Arizona 5-1 in Los Angeles.
Despite being third to last in the Pac-12 Conference in goals scored this year, the Bruins found the back of the net early and in this game and never looked back.
UCLA’s Darian Jenkins scored off a corner kick in the 5th minute to give the Bruins a quick 1-0 lead.
Amber Munerlyn extended UCLA’s lead to 2-0 in the 21st minute.
A shot from Hannah Wong in the 28th minute gave the Wildcats their first shot on goal, but it was saved.
UCLA tacked on yet another goal in the 35th minute to make it 3-0, which would be the score at halftime.
As lopsided as the score was, however, the first half stats were surprisingly even. UCLA had taken seven shots; Arizona had taken five.
After halftime, the score would remain 3-0 for only 23 seconds as UCLA was awarded a penalty kick. Annie Alvarado stepped up and converted to give the Bruins a four-goal lead.
With the game already out of reach, the Bruins managed to score yet another goal in the 64th minute to make it 5-0.
The Wildcats nearly got their first goal in the 68th minute when a shot from distance by Charlotte Brascia barely went wide.
The Wildcats finally got on the board in the 86th minute. Chelle Mahoney scored off a flip throw from Jessica Nelson for her first career goal to make it 5-1, and that would end up being the final score.
It was certainly a rough night for the Arizona defense, which, coming into the game, had only given up seven goals all year. UCLA also finished with 18 shots, while Arizona had 10, though 11 of the Bruins’ were on goal.
On a positive note, Sheaffer Skadsen and Laura Pimienta played all 90 minutes for the Wildcats. Skadsen has played the entire game in 11 of 12 matches this year.
Rachel Estopare started in net for the Wildcats and played 63 minutes but was replaced by Lainey Burdett in the 64th minute. Estopare finished with four saves but allowed all five goals, while Burdett had two saves in the final 23 minutes of action.
The late Arizona goal won’t mask UCLA’s domination in this game and the Wildcats, who are now 8-3-1 on the season and 2-2 in the Pac-12, will look to regroup Sunday at 3:30 p.m., against a formidable USC team.
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