University of Washington
UCLA
No. 14 UW Upsets No. 1 UCLA To Win Second-Straight MPSF Title
November 10, 1999 | Men's Soccer
Nov. 10, 1999
SEATTLE - The Washington soccer team survived a first-minute goal by UCLA and a downpour in the second half to defeat the Bruins, 2-1, and win its second-straight MPSF championship on Wednesday at Husky Soccer Field. UW improves to 13-4-2 and will host Oral Roberts in an NCAA play-in on Sunday at 1 p.m. The loss was only UCLA's second in 18 outings.
The 527 soaked fans saw four shots, two goals and a save in the first two minutes of play. UCLA's Scot Thompson knocked in a McKinley Tennyson shot which rebounded of UW keeper James Dickinson at 1:05, but that lead would last just 24 seconds. Sophomore Bryn Ritchie's third goal of the season was almost a replay of the Bruin score, with Ritchie poking in a rebound off senior Rees Bettinger's shot.
UCLA threatened again midway through the first half, when senior Wes Hart was issued a yellow card for an incidental handball in the box. But Dickinson's second save was perhaps his finest, stopping the penalty kick by Pete Vagenas headed for the lower left corner of the goal at 24:04.
A series of excellent passes set up the go-ahead score for the Huskies. Bettinger sent a ball from the middle of the field to sophomore Jake Sagare, who sent it to Hart on the left side of the box. Hart then one-touched the ball to sophomore Greg Foisie on the far side of the box, who punched it in at 43:31 for his third goal of the season.
Both the Bruin attack and the rain intensified as the second period progressed, with UCLA taking 11 more quality shots after halftime. Dickinson finished with six saves, one fewer than his season high, to thwart the comeback. UW was outshot for just the third time this season, 20-13. The Bruins also held a slim, 9-8 corner-kick advantage.
"We're obviously delighted with the result," UW head coach Dean Wurzberger said. "James played out of his skin today. The conditions were very tough for both teams, we just had to gut it out, and the guys played their hearts out. It was tremendous that we answered early. That's a championship-level team. Winning back-to-back MPSF championships, with the amount of turnover we've had, is a tremendous accomplishment."
The Huskies not only have endured much personnel turnover the past two season, but the squad orchestrated an impressive turnaround this year. After starting the year 5-4-2, UW has now won eight straight matches. That with a program which has lost 18 players since 1997 to graduation, 10 of whom have gone on to play soccer professionally.
College Men's Soccer
Washington 2, UCLA 1
Nov. 10, 1999
Scoring-1, UCLA, Scot Thompson (McKinley Tennyson), 1:05, 2, UW, Bryn Ritchie (Rees Bettinger), 1:29, 3, UW, Greg Foisie (Jake Sagare, Wes Hart), 43:31.
Shots-UW 13, UCLA 20. Saves-UW 6, UCLA 4. Corner Kicks-UW 8, UCLA 9. Fouls-UW 18, UCLA 13. Attendance-527.
