Men’s Soccer Wins a Stunning Upset of No. 11 UCLA 3-1
Nick Collins, Erick Ruiz and William Pierce scored from a 5-5-0 that put five of seven shots on target, Rafael Ponce de Leon was not asked to make a save, and the Scarlet Knights opened Big Ten play by ending a decade of losses to the Bruins.
In a surprising upset, Rutgers defeated No. 11 UCLA 3-1 in a game that played out exactly as UCLA had predicted it would. Rutgers took only seven shots, fewer than in any match this season, yet they managed to score three times. The first goal came from their center back, followed by a goal from a substitute who had never attempted a shot all season, and then a goal from a midfielder who was substituted and returned to the match.
Nick Collins equalized for UCLA in the 14th minute, Erick Ruiz put Rutgers ahead in the 49th, and William Pierce scored the winning goal in the 88th minute. This was the first time Rutgers had started without a forward and the fourth match of their five-game homestand, which also served as their Big Ten opener. UCLA, ranked 11th, had not conceded a goal since their 2-1 win over Omaha, and they had only scored from eight different scorers, with nine goals coming after the half.
The defending Big Ten tournament champions arrived from 2,500 miles away for a single game, with their goalkeeper making only eight saves all season. Rutgers' rotation kept them fresh, with only four players going the full ninety minutes. Despite UCLA's early goal, Rutgers fought back and outlasted the Bruins, with Pierce's goal coming three minutes after Di Ponzio and Gorczowski returned to the match.
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