UCLA One Step From Title

UCLA is one victory away from its fourth NCAA men’s soccer championship, but standing in its way is a familiar opponent.

The Bruins play Stanford in today’s title match at Gerald J. Ford Stadium in Dallas. If recent meetings against the Cardinal are an indicator, it could be a joyous airplane ride back home to Los Angeles.

UCLA (17-3-3) won both meetings with Stanford this season by 1-0 scores, a big part of why the Bruins won the Pacific 10 Conference championship. Forward Matt Taylor expects another close match.

“It always seems to come down to the end,” said Taylor, who scored the first goal in a 2-1 semifinal victory Friday over Maryland.

Stanford (18-4-2) advanced to its second consecutive College Cup and third overall. The Cardinal defeated Creighton, 2-1, in the semifinals to reach their second title match. They lost to Indiana in 1998.

It will be the first NCAA title match between two West Coast teams in the 44-year history of the tournament.

“I think it proves to the nation that West Coast soccer is very strong,” UCLA midfielder Jimmy Frazelle said.

-- Eric Stephens