SOCCER : No. 2 UCLA Men Are Tied by SMU, 1-1, Finish Third

The second-ranked UCLA men’s soccer team tied 15th-ranked Southern Methodist, 1-1, in overtime on Sunday and placed third in their Pacific Coast Soccer Classic.

UCLA won the eight-year-old tournament every previous year except in 1988, when UCLA and San Diego State shared the title, and in 1987, when Indiana won it.

Unranked Davidson won the tournament, SMU placed second and unranked Cal State Fullerton was last.

“It’s very disappointing,” said Joe-Max Moore, a Bruin midfielder. “Since I’ve been here we haven’t allowed a goal in this tournament, and to finish third is very disappointing.’

Moore, one of two current Bruins to play in all three Olympic matches for the U.S. Olympic team in Barcelona, suffered strained knee ligaments during practice last week. Moore sat out most of UCLA’s 3-1 loss to Davidson on Friday in the Bruins’ tournament opener.

Moore started and played the entire match against SMU, but UCLA Coach Sigi Schmid said Moore was only 80% recovered.

Moore was not selected to the all-tournament team. Brad Friedel, who was the U.S. Olympic team’s starting goalkeeper this summer, was selected the most valuable defensive player.

Friedel led the nation last week with an 0.17 goals-against average and had given up only two goals in 11 games before the tournament. He gave up four goals in two games during the tournament.

UCLA (9-2-2) has had difficulty this season putting together an offense, and the trouble showed against SMU. UCLA didn’t score until Eric Page substituted for Jorge Salcedo and scored from the far post after a corner kick with less than 10 minutes remaining.

SMU (9-2-2) countered three minutes later on a goal by Marcus Keane.

SMU outshot UCLA, 12-9.

UCLA’s offensive trouble lies in its inexperience. The Bruins start freshmen forwards Adam Frye and Robbie LaBelle. Both were first-team Parade High School All-American selections last season.

Davidson (8-2-3) has no scholarship players on its team. Midfielder Bob Ukrop was voted the most valuable offensive player of the tournament.

Davidson will play host to the NCAA men’s soccer final four.

Davidson defeated Fullerton, 4-0, on Sunday and SMU defeated Fullerton, 4-2, on Friday.