SOCCER : Bruins Go to Region Final, 2-1

The University of San Diego men’s soccer team had a shot Sunday, but UCLA had many more.

The Bruins finally cashed in on an opportunity 12 minutes 41 seconds into overtime when Joe-Max Moore scored the deciding goal in a 2-1 victory. UCLA advanced to the NCAA West Region championship next weekend against Southern Methodist University.

The site and time for that match have not been determined, but it probably will be Sunday at UCLA, because the Bruins (16-1-4) are the No. 1-seeded team.

San Diego, the region’s fourth-seeded team, finished its best season 16-3-5.

The Toreros held the lead early, but could not keep up with the speed and depth of UCLA, which is ranked No. 2 in the nation.

Moore got his sixth game-winning goal of the season, and 11th overall, off a neat touch pass from Cobi Jones, who managed to dribble around defenseman Kevin Arthur near the goal line to the left of the box. Moore’s goal came from about 10 yards out.

“I tried to come out and make him commit to one side,” San Diego freshman goalie Tom Tate said. “He just hit it to the other side. I got a hand on it but not enough.”

Torero Coach Seamus McFadden said the goal was inevitable.

“To me, this is a game where you can only absorb so much pressure,” he said.

UCLA outshot San Diego, 15-6, including 11-2 in the second half and overtime periods. UCLA also had a 10-2 advantage in corner kicks.

Shortly after the public address announcer informed the paid crowd of 1,548 at North Field that San Diego was the highest-scoring team in the West Region with 59 goals, the Toreros scored their 60th, taking a 1-0 lead 10 minutes into the match.

Leo Ronces, a senior who led the Toreros in scoring last season with 13, put one in from 10 yards out and off to the left side of the goal.

Setting up the goal, Ronces’ ninth, Tom Crane made a pass in front of the goal that was headed away by UCLA’s Mike Lapper, then tapped to Ronces by Alex Streicek. Crane and Streicek were awarded assists.

Lapper and UCLA came back five minutes later to tie it, 1-1. Lapper took a pass from Moore 25 yards out and to the right of the goal and looped a shot over Tate.

San Diego midfielder Phillip Button had a breakaway opportunity just outside the UCLA penalty box midway through the first half, but Chris Henderson caught him from behind and tackled him, drawing a yellow card for unsportsmanlike play.

San Diego was whistled for a similar play--Brenden Griffin taking down All-American forward Billy Thompson, who leads the West Region with 17 goals and 41 points--with about a minute left in regulation.