After converting three of eight shots in the opening quarter, UCI missed its first four attempts in the second quarter and finished the period just one for seven. Including the final two shots before halftime, UCI missed 17 consecutive shots, which were either saved by UCLA sophomore goalie Chay Lapin (13 saves on the night), deflected by defenders, sailed wide or high, or bounded off a goal post.
“A tough loss,” UCI Coach Marc Hunt said. “UCLA played very well. I don’t know the numbers, but our shooting percentage was very low.”
UCI, in fact, found the net on just five of its 32 attempts, an anemic 15.6%.
UCLA Coach Adam Krikorian said his team did nothing special on defense, though it did manage to hold UCI senior All-American Tim Hutten scoreless. Hutten, who scored seven goals in the previous win over the Bruins this season, had no shots in the opening half and was zero for five after intermission.
“We just got after it a little bit more,” Krikorian said of the difference for his team from the previous UCI match. “We were pretty disappointed [with the Sept. 22 outcome]. Tim Hutten [who entered the game with 37 goals in nine games] is an unbelievable player. But I don’t care how good you are, I don’t think you should be scoring seven goals.”
Senior driver Colin Mello paced the Anteaters with three goals, all in the first half.
Meanwhile, nine Bruins found the net, led by senior Justin Johnson. Senior Marco Santos had two goals, while seven others had one apiece, including freshman Clay Jorth, a Newport Harbor High product.
Krikorian said the Bruins were not only inspired by their previous setback against UCI, but also by a 7-6 MPSF-opening road loss at Stanford Sept. 29.
