UCLA’s George Has Even More Goals in Mind

Last season, Seth George was a key player on the UCLA men’s national championship soccer team. This season, George is becoming a key player in UCLA soccer history.

After scoring both goals in UCLA’s 2-1 victory Sunday over Loyola Marymount, George has 42 in his career and is among the top eight Bruins in four all-time offensive categories.

His goals tie him for seventh, and his 107 points put him eighth. His 15 game-winning goals tie him for second and his current streak of nine consecutive games with at least one point ranks third in UCLA history.

Achieving these numbers has been a surprise for George, who once thought them unreachable.

“When I was a freshman and looking at the record books, I just looked at those numbers like, ‘No way,’ ” George said. “Now that I’m reaching them, it’s incredible.”

One person who thought George had the ability to be one of the great scorers at UCLA is Bruin Coach Sigi Schmid.

“When I recruited Seth, I felt he had an ability to score goals,” said Schmid, UCLA’s all-time winningest coach. “He’s also a very good passer. So this is not a surprise.”

But George’s goals have not only helped him in the record book, they have often been the catalysts for Bruin victories.

Against the Lions, his first goal tied the score only 43 seconds after the Bruins had fallen behind. He got his game-winner came in the second overtime and the Bruins were 7-1.

It was the same story last season.

UCLA was 17-0 when George scored a goal or assist, and 5-2 when he didn’t. He scored both goals in a 2-0 victory over Virginia in the national championship game.

“He’s certainly our goal-scoring leader,” Schmid said. “He puts pressure on the opposition and through his presence he opens up space for others.”

George agreed his scoring is key, but acknowledged it’s cohesiveness that will determine how far the Bruins go.

“The key is coming together as a team,” George said. “That’s what happened last year. I love those guys from last year forever.”

This year, the Bruins have four new starters, which George said has taken some getting used to.

” . . . But I think it’s coming together,” he said. “I think it’ll be there in time for the national championship. I mean, that’s what this is all about.”

In one of women’s volleyball’s biggest matches this season, undefeated and top-ranked Long Beach State needed five games but handed UC Santa Barbara its first loss, 15-11, 13-15, 15-10, 7-15, 15-8, Friday at Santa Barbara.

However, UCSB Coach Kathy Gregory believes her team can still win a national championship.

“This is one of the best defensive teams in the country,” Gregory said of her team, ranked third by Volleyball magazine and fourth by the American Volleyball Coaches Assn. “It needs to continue to improve and develop.”

One key to that development is the play of four freshmen.

Heather Hutchison, Brienna Lampe, Desiree Rook and Brooke Rundle have all played considerably and the results have been positive.

“These freshmen are very mature,” junior Roberta Gehlke said. “I’ve been impressed.”

But no matter how well it plays against other teams, Santa Barbara still is looking for a way to defeat Long Beach.

Last year, Long Beach dealt UCSB its only two conference losses, then beat the Gauchos in the conference tournament as well.

They’ll play again at Long Beach in November.

The top-ranked USC men’s water polo team remained undefeated with victories over Pacific and UC Irvine last weekend. Junior goalie Richard McEvoy made three saves from within two meters in the final two minutes to seal the 9-0 Trojans’ 7-6 victory over UC Irvine. . . . Last week’s Soccer America college teams of the week included two local players. UCLA goalie Nick Romando, whose streak of 447 consecutive shutout minutes ended against Loyola Marymount, and USC midfielder Andrea Warner, who scored in a 1-0 victory over Brigham Young, were chosen for the team. . . . The Loyola Marymount women’s soccer team remained undefeated with victories over Wyoming and Sacramento State last weekend at the UNLV tournament at Las Vegas. The Lions (8-0-2) begin West Coast Conference play Friday at Santa Clara. . . . With its victory over Loyola Marymount, the UCLA men’s soccer team extended its home winning streak to 23 games, tied for second-longest in NCAA history. Tulsa holds the record with 39 in 1988-92.