Nov. 2, 2007
LOS ANGELES - The top-ranked UCLA Bruins were too much for the Arizona State women's soccer team Friday night as the Bruins defeated the Sun Devils, 3-1, in Drake Stadium. ASU falls to 3-3-1 in conference play and 9-8-1 overall. UCLA remains undefeated in Pac-10 play at 6-0-0 and improves to 13-1-2 on the season.
"I didn't feel like we played our game," said ASU head coach Kevin Boyd. "We are however the first team to score on them in Pac-10 play. We made some adjustments and Lindsey Johns came in and made a difference for us tonight, but overall we were just outplayed."
The Bruins got on the scoreboard first as sophomore Lauren Cheney scored her 18th goal of the season off a close-range shot from the left side to take a 1-0 lead for UCLA.
The Sun Devils were able to hold the Bruins scoreless for the remaining 30 minutes of the first half to go into the break down by one.
UCLA came out of the half fired up as Cheney found senior Denesha Adams in the 46th minute of play. Adams took a looping shot from long range that found the far post and put the Bruins up 2-0.
UCLA continued the scoring in the 53rd minute as freshman defender Lauren Barnes found the net off a free kick for her first goal of the season and a 3-0 lead.
"UCLA was really, really good," explained Boyd. "They were mobile and creative in their attacks and they were significantly better than anyone we have faced this season. They are a legitimate No. 1 team."
ASU kept battling and in the 74th minute sophomore forward Dante Perea crossed the ball inside the goal box and found senior defender Kyleyn Felts for the score. The goal was the second for Felts this season and the fourth of her career. Perea recorded her second assist of the season on the score.
Felts' score was the first goal allowed by UCLA goalkeeper Valerie Henderson in Pac-10 play this season.
ASU goalkeeper Briana Silvestri had five saves in the loss, but was one of the key players for the Sun Devils on the night.
ASU returns to action Sunday at No. 4 USC. Game time is set for 1 p.m. PT from McAlister Field in Los Angeles.