Top-Ranked UCLA Plays at Irvine Today

Six players who starred at Orange County high schools return home to lead the top-ranked UCLA men’s soccer team against UC Irvine at 4:30 today at Anteater Stadium.

Sophomore defender Scot Thompson (Trabuco Hills High) and freshman forward Matt Taylor (Irvine) are starters. Junior midfielder Ryan Futagaki (Fountain Valley), freshman forward Cliff McKinley (Fountain Valley), sophomore forward Tim Pierce (Santa Margarita) and freshman goalkeeper Zach Wells (Newport Harbor) have also contributed to the Bruins’ 4-0 record.

Unranked Irvine (5-1) is off to its best start since 1994, the same year it scored its only victory over the Bruins. In the series, UCLA has won 12 of 13. Last year, the Bruins won, 1-0.

Junior midfielder Jon Spencer leads the Anteaters with 11 points on four goals and three assists. Senior forward Eric Monterastelli has nine points on four goals and one assist. Senior goalkeeper Tyler Reid has a goals-against average of 0.67 with three shutouts.