Stephan Teodosescu
steodosescu@mustangdaily.net
The Cal Poly men’s soccer team couldn’t make it six wins in a row, as the Mustangs dropped a 1-0 loss to No.12 ranked UCLA (5-1-2) on Sunday afternoon in Alex G. Spanos Stadium.
After defeating Harvard in come-from-behind fashion on Friday night, the Mustangs tried to extend their winning streak to a program-record sixth straight victory, but instead were shut out in the second match of the 2012 Nike Central Coast Challenge.
The difference was a 47th minute header by Bruins senior midfielder Fernando Monge, who slammed home the game’s only goal off a cross received from the left side of the box.
Cal Poly (5-3-0) saw several chances at goal to knot the score throughout the match, but couldn’t capitalize because of too many mistakes, according to seventh-year head coach Paul Holocher.
“It definitely wasn’t a top performance by us,” Holocher said. “We just lacked a little bit of a quality in our passing and made too many mistakes in the final parts of the field where we gave away the ball too easy.”
Junior midfielder George Malki nearly tied the game in the final 10 seconds with a shot that sailed just over the bar after the ball pinballed throughout the penalty area.
But the Mustangs’ best chance of the afternoon came within the opening minute, when junior forward Mackenzie Pridham rifled home a drive to the far post which passed Bruins sophomore goalkeeper Earl Edwards, but was whistled offside.
“I got a hold of it pretty good,” Pridham said. “I hit it pretty hard and low on the ground right on the inside of the far post. It was clear the goalie couldn’t even get a finger on it, but the referee called it offsides.”
Pridham’s offside wasn’t exclusive, though, as the Mustangs committed four within the opening 36 minutes of play and six total. It showed that Cal Poly was willing to attack on the offensive end, Pridham said.
“The positive is that we were getting behind (UCLA’s back line) and we were getting in there,” he said. “All you need is for one of those to be on and it could be the goal that wins the game.”
The Toronto, Ontario native missed an almost identical opportunity minutes later, skipping a line drive across the face of goal, but it skimmed just wide.
Cal Poly controlled much of the tempo in the first 20 minutes, but didn’t get a shot off until the 26th minute when Malki sent one into Edwards’ hands from the right side. It proved to be the only shot on goal from either squad in the first half.
In the 55th minute, junior forward Chris Bernardi took a free kick from the left edge of the 18-yard box, but it was punched away harmlessly by the Bruins goalkeeper.
Cal Poly freshman goalkeeper Wade Hamilton made his lone save of the night on a bullet from straight on in the 59th minute to preserve the one goal deficit.
The Mustangs came out with more energy and confidence early in the first half and kept UCLA on its heels, according to sophomore midfielder Nolan Moore. For him, an early goal could have won the match for the Mustangs.
“We’re playing great right now, great soccer,” Moore said. “I thought that first half was some of the best soccer we’ve played all season.”
Pridham and Malki led the team with two shots apiece, including one on goal from each player on the afternoon.
On another chance, Pridham took a free kick from about 25 yards out in the 76th minute, but was turned away by Edwards.
UCLA finished with two shots on goal, both of which came in the first half, compared to the Mustangs’ four.
“(UCLA) is a top team,” Holocher said. “It’s the (No.12-ranked) team in the country; they’re a very good team. We just go back, we just finished our nonconference schedule, and now we evaluate it and see where we can improve going in to conference.”
Cal Poly heads to Cal State Fullerton (3-6-0) on Friday to open the Big West portion of its 2012 schedule.