
Riley Felch heated up the Bruins’ offense on Friday night, and the midfielder’s contribution helped put out the enemy flames.
Fourth-placed UCLA Men’s Soccer (3-0) and Liberty (1-1-1) both scored consistently in the first half and had a combined 10 shots, while Ferch’s two goals and one assist fell short. Increased cross difference – Friday night coastal enemies. In the game that the Bruins won 5–2, the senior recorded his first multi-goal performance and scored his career-high.
In the 13th minute, sophomore forward José Contel collected a pass on the right flank and advanced towards the box. The Spaniard crossed low and met Felch’s boot in the Liberty defense, where the Margate, Florida native put a strike into the net to give the Bruins a 1-0 lead.
Ferch helped UCLA add another 15 minutes. Junior forward Andrés Ochoa, who moved to Westwood from San Diego State, scored his first goal as a Bruin in the 28th minute. UCLA’s own downfield from his half Felch, who chipped his pass, connected with Ochoa in front of goal and Ochoa calmly scored, giving Blue and Gold a 2–1 advantage he had.
Near the end of the first half, senior forward Konstantinos Michaelides crossed into the middle of the box to create another chance to score. Felch worked his way into open space and headed past goalkeeper Danny Cordero to give UCLA his third goal of the night.
However, the Flames answered throughout the first half, finding answers to the first two bruin punches.
Liberty midfielder Seth Clark scored his first goal of the season in the 27th minute. In the 38th minute, sophomore goaltender Nate Crockford’s clearance hit Liberty forward Gola Gola, which ricocheted into the UCLA goal to bring the game closer.
Crockford was put to the test on Friday as the Bruins’ defense failed to concede a goal or shoot on target in the first two games of the season. He ended up saving two of the six shots from the flames.
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UCLA controlled possession and chances in the second half, scoring two goals in the final 45 minutes to score.
Junior defender Tommy Silva scored in the 53rd minute and sophomore defender Aaron Edwards scored an assist, floating a low cross into the box where the former finished in the net.
Michaelides made the score 5-3 in the 66th minute. The Cypriot-born winger was boxed by his junior defender Pablo Greenlee and Liberty goalkeeper He broke past Franzen and scored with his quick shot.
Coach Ryan Jorden used ten substitutions primarily in the second half as the game progressed. The freshman Thomas Raimbault, Cam Wilkerson, Amjot Narang, Sebastian Rincon and JC Cortez all entered the competition, with Wilkerson and Narang making their college debuts.
UCLA will try to stay undefeated on Monday when it hosts the Grand Canyon for a non-conference matchup that kicks off at 7 p.m.
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Photo courtesy of UCLA Athletics
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