UCLA Sends LMU Packing Once Again

The UCLA men’s soccer team did everything but actually tell Loyola Marymount to, “Take this.” And take that, and that, and that.

But the third-seeded Bruins defeated the Lions, 4-2, in an NCAA tournament second-round game Wednesday night at Drake Stadium that spoke volumes about their intentions. The more experienced Bruins (14-3-3), making their 20th consecutive NCAA tournament appearance, matched Loyola’s physical play and took the fight out of the Lions each time they attempted a comeback.

The victory also avenged a regular-season nonconference loss the Bruins suffered Sept. 22, when Loyola (15-4-2) handed UCLA a 2-0 loss, the Bruins’ first after they began the season 4-0-1, and it sent UCLA on to the third round of the NCAA tournament, where it will play host to California at 7 p.m. Saturday.

“I was just really excited to go out,” said junior midfielder Adolfo Gregorio, who had two goals and an assist for UCLA. “We wanted to go out and prove that game was just that game. I think we took the game to them this time. Tonight we were on our game, whereas last time, I think we were a step slow.”

Loyola, making its second appearance in the NCAA tournament, earned its first postseason victory last weekend with a 1-0 shutout of Cal State Northridge.

UCLA also knocked Loyola out of the NCAA tournament in the first round last year with a 3-2 double-overtime victory.

“Hopefully, we’ll get a little bit of a rivalry going,” said Loyola Coach Paul Krumpe, a former UCLA player and assistant coach. “But I think next year, we’ll switch and lose the regular-season game and hopefully win the postseason one.”