Bruins Win, Face Rutgers in NCAA Title Game : Soccer: After battling to a scoreless tie, UCLA beats North Carolina State on penalty kicks.

Last-minute substitute Mark Sharp converted the decisive kick and freshman goalkeeper Brad Friedel made a crucial save as UCLA defeated North Carolina State on penalty kicks, 5-3, Saturday in an NCAA championship semifinal game.

The penalty kicks decided the outcome after neither team scored in 90 minutes of regulation time and two scoreless 15-minute overtimes.

The win puts the No. 2-ranked Bruins into today’s noon (PST) final at the University of South Florida.

UCLA will meet Rutgers, which defeated No. 1-ranked and unbeaten Evansville, 1-0, Saturday.

UCLA and Rutgers (20-2-2) have met once before this season. Rutgers defeated the Bruins, 2-1, Oct. 14 in Piscataway, N.J.

But UCLA Coach Sigi Schmid said things are different.

“We’re motivated from the standpoint of not beating them the first time,” Schmid said of his 18-1-4 team. “This is the most important game we want to win.”

The Wolfpack took 33 shots.

The Bruins, concerned more with defending, managed 14 shots but created few dangerous chances for Wolfpack goalie Mark Gailey.

“They outplayed us,” Schmid said, “and based on the game and the run of the play, N.C. State was the better team.”

But UCLA adjusted better.

The Bruins brought in an extra defender to further frustrate N.C. State forwards.

Twice in the last five minutes of regulation time, UCLA staved off Wolfpack threats and then knew that the game must go to penalty kicks if they were to win.

The Bruins played the last 28 minutes without senior defender Ray Fernandez, who was ejected for punching Wolfpack forward Ray Lassiter. Fernandez must sit out today’s game, which will be UCLA’s fourth championship game appearance.