Omaha
UCLA
Mavs Head to Fourth-Ranked UCLA
Aug 18, 2014 | Men's Soccer
The Omaha men's soccer team hits the road for an exhibition at No. 4 UCLA on Tuesday at 6 p.m. (CT). Live stats will be available at OMavs.com. The fourth-ranked Bruins are the highest-ranked opponent the Mavericks have faced in their four-year history, exhibition or regular season.
The Teams
Christian Garcia is the Mavs' top returning scorer with four goals and two assists in his freshman season, earning him Summit League Newcomer of the Year. Garcia was named the preseason Summit League Offensive Player of the Year by College Sports Madness. Center back Felipe da Silva was an All-Summit League first-team selection, the first in UNO men's soccer history, and will lead the Maverick back line. Mark Moulton was an All-Newcomer selection with two goals and two assists last season. Senior Vance Rookwood is back after scoring four goals in his junior season. The Kingston, Jamaica native is UNO's career record holder in points (23), goals (10), game-winning goals (4) and shots on goal (24).
UCLA was ranked No. 1 most of the 2013 season and earned the top overall seed in the NCAA Tournament before being eliminated in the quarterfinals with a final record of 12-3-5. Senior midfielder Leo Stolz is on the MAC Hermann Watch List and is the only returning finalist from last season's MAC Hermann Trophy voting. Stolz was the Pac-12 Player of the Year and a first-team All-American last season with 11 goals and eight assists. Sophomore forward Gage Zerboni had four goals and two assists to rank third on the team in scoring last season. The Bruins are playing their first exhibition match of the season.
Last Time Out
The Mavericks scored two goals in the final 21 minutes to beat the UNL Club and Alumni team 2-1 before 1,438 fans at the South Omaha Classic at Collin Stadium on Saturday. The Mavericks put on a dominating display, outshooting UNL 27-3 overall and 10-1 in shots on goal. The Mavericks also had a 9-1 advantage in corner kicks over UNL, which featured a mix of current and past UNL club team players, as well as NAIA All-Americans and other former college players. But the finishing didn't come until 69:06 remained when Jesus Perez picked up a loose ball and slotted it home after Lalo Gamboa had worked his way into the box. The goal from Perez tied the match at 1-1. UNL had taken the lead just before halftime on its only shot on goal of the game. The Mavericks blistered UNL's net in the second half with an 18-1 shot advantage. Emir Alihodzic notched the game-winner in the 81st minute. Gamboa again carried the ball forward and laid it off for an on-rushing Alihodzic, who fired from 24 yards out into the far corner of the net for the 2-1 final margin.
Up Next
The Mavericks will hold a Red-Black intrasquad scrimmage on Saturday, Aug. 23 at 7 p.m. The scrimmage is free to the public. UNO opens the regular season on Friday, Aug. 29 against Santa Clara at 7:30 p.m. at Caniglia Field.
