Victorine Makes It Worth the Wait

Sasha Victorine waited two years for a game like Sunday’s, so he took advantage of the only scoring opportunity he got.

Victorine, a junior who missed most of last season with a knee injury, scored the game-winning goal on a header in the 87th minute to give defending champion UCLA a 2-1 victory over Fresno State in the opening round of the NCAA tournament before 1,777 at UCLA’s North Athletic Field.

Unable to start because of an ankle injury, Victorine entered in the 56th minute. More than 30 minutes later, he got a perfect crossing pass from the left from Carlos Bocanegra and had an open net.

“It was one of those ones where if you miss, you’re like, ‘Oh my God,’ ” Victorine said. “It’s almost nerve-racking at times when it’s that wide open.”

The goal came less than 15 minutes after the Bulldogs (11-6-5) tied a game that the Bruins (17-3) had dominated, especially in the beginning.

“We were stronger in the first half, but the game went more [Fresno’s] direction in the second,” UCLA Coach Sigi Schmid said.

The fifth-ranked Bruins outshot Fresno State, 7-5, in the first half, and spent much of the half in the Bulldogs’ end.

UCLA came out of the first half leading, 1-0, after Pete Vagenas scored on a penalty kick in the 42nd minute.

Freshman Sean Walker took a pass from Tom Poltl and was one on one with Bulldog goalkeeper Jeff Fluharty. Fluharty came out and slid feet first, taking out Walker. Fluharty was given a yellow card and the Bruins were awarded the penalty kick.

“I don’t think the referee was in position to make that call,” Fluharty said. “It must have looked like I went through [Walker] and took out his legs.”

Fresno State, who lost to UCLA, 3-0, on Sept. 13, scored in the 72nd minute when Bryan Roney beat UCLA goalkeeper Nick Rimando off the right goal post from 20 yards.

UCLA will next play Creighton, who defeated St. Louis, 4-1.