On October 18, 2024, the No. 19 UCLA men’s soccer team triumphed over Rutgers with a 3-0 victory in Piscataway, New Jersey. The Bruins dominated the second half of the game, scoring three goals to secure the win. Andre Ochoa, Jose Contell, and Nico Cavallo were the goal scorers for UCLA in this impressive victory.
Both Ochoa and Cavallo scored their first goals of the season during the match. Ochoa also notched his first assist of the campaign on the Bruins’ third goal. Goalkeeper Wyatt Nelson delivered a stellar performance, earning his second clean sheet of the season and making a career-high eight saves throughout the game.
The game remained tied at 0-0 as the second half began, but the Bruins (6-3-4, 3-2-2 Big Ten) came out strong and efficiently. Ochoa opened the scoring for UCLA in the 56th minute after a well-executed cross from Phillip Naef. The Bruins continued to control the game, with Naef earning a penalty in the 70th minute that was calmly converted by Contell. Just two minutes later, Cavallo extended UCLA’s lead to 3-0 with his first goal as a Bruin.
Despite several attempts in the first half, UCLA was unable to find the back of the net. Naef and Contell had promising opportunities saved by the Rutgers goalkeeper, while Ochoa and Ratoviz also had their shots blocked by the opposing defense. The first half ended with both teams deadlocked at 0-0.
In the upcoming match, the Bruins are set to face off against No. 6 Maryland in University Park, Maryland. The game will be televised on the Big Ten Network and will kick off at 4 p.m. PT.
Key highlights from the game include Ochoa’s impressive performance, tallying his first goal and assist of the season, bringing his total to eight goals and 12 assists as a Bruin. Cavallo scored his first goal for UCLA and the second of his collegiate career, with Naef contributing his team-leading fifth assist of the season. Nelson’s outstanding goalkeeping led to his new career-high of eight saves in a single game, helping the Bruins secure their sixth clean sheet of the season and tying them with Ohio State for the most shutouts in 2024.
Additionally, freshman Artem Vovk and sophomore Tre Wright made their first career starts for the Bruins, showcasing the depth and talent of the UCLA men’s soccer team.