Oct. 18, 2009
Los Angeles - In a matchup of the Pac-10's top two teams, No. 4 UCLA knocked off No. 18 Stanford, 2-0, on Sunday afternoon at Drake Stadium. The Cardinal fell to 8-3-1 (2-2-1 Pac-10) at the halfway point of the conference season.
UCLA scored a goal in both halves in a game that was a defensive struggle for most of the game. The two teams combined for just 15 shots with Stanford notching six of them.
The Bruins got on the board in the 33rd minute when Chandler Hoffman beat John Moore with a shot from just inside the box. The goal came on one of just for shots by both teams in the half.
Stanford had a chance for the equalizer in the 66th minute, but a promising Ryan Thomas cross was punched away by the diving UCLA keeper, Brian Perk.
UCLA added its second goal in the 75th minute when a Michael Stephens cross was headed in by Sean Alvarado. Stephens assisted on both goals for the Bruins.
The Cardinal nearly got on the board late in the second half when Dersu Abolfathi hit the post with a shot, but the ball bounced away from the goal.
Of the six total shots by the Cardinal, two were on goal, both by Adam Jahn.
Despite giving up two goals, the Stanford defense played well and extended its streak of not allowing more than two goals to 30 games.
Next up for Stanford will be rematches with San Diego State and UCLA, this time at Laird Q. Cagan Stadium. A week after a dramatic overtime win the Cardinal will take on the Aztecs on Friday, Oct. 23, at 7 pm, before getting a second crack at UCLA on Sunday, Oct. 25, at 1 pm.