Bruins Beat Southern Methodist to Advance to Soccer Semifinals
Chris Henderson scored an unassisted goal and Billy Thompson added another goal to send UCLA to college soccer’s final four with a 2-0 victory over Southern Methodist in the NCAA West Regional title game Sunday at UCLA’s North Field.
The victory kept the Bruins unbeaten in their past 39 games at home and improved their record to 17-1-4. SMU finished at 18-4-1.
UCLA’s first goal came at the 27-minute mark when Henderson scored from 10 yards out on the left side. Thompson’s goal came in the 79th minute off an assist from Sam George.
The shutout was the 10th for the Bruins and the eighth for freshman goalkeeper Brad Friedel. It was the first time the Mustangs had been shut out this season.
The second-ranked Bruins advance to play fourth-ranked North Carolina State on Saturday at the University of South Florida in Tampa. The other semifinal pits top-ranked Evansville versus fourth-ranked Rutgers. The Division I championship game is Sunday.
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