UCLA Beats San Diego in Soccer Playoffs

Billy Thompson scored 2 goals in the final 17 minutes Sunday at Westwood as UCLA rallied to eliminate San Diego State, 2-1, to advance to the second round of the National Collegiate Athletic Assn. soccer playoffs.

The Bruins play at Portland next Sunday.

Both of Thompson’s goals came after UCLA defender Dana Keir was ejected at the 70-minute mark for an altercation with Aztec Eric Wynalda.

“When Dana was kicked out, I kind of smiled,” Thompson said. “I knew that the incident would make us keep fighting.”

Actually, UCLA (13-4-4) didn’t need much motivation, because San Diego State (15-3-4) eliminated the Bruins from the playoffs last season.

And after a goal by San Diego’s Kyle Whittemore in the first half goal and then Keir’s ejection, it looked as if the Aztecs would eliminate the Bruins again.

Thompson, however, changed that.