UCLA Earns Late Victory Over Maryland, 20-17

PASADENA, Calif. – Mateen Bhaghani drilled a game-winning 24-yard subject purpose to elevate the UCLA soccer crew to the 20-17 win over Maryland on Homecoming Saturday on the Rose Bowl.
 
UCLA took over on the 27-yard line with simply 40 seconds remaining and quarterback Nico Iamaleava instantly went to work, connecting with Titus Mokiao-Atimalala for back-to-back completions amounting to 33 yards. Anthony Frias II then did the remainder on the bottom, scampering 35 yards to the Maryland 5-yard line to arrange the game-winning kick for Bhaghani.
 
The Bruins (3-4, 3-1 Big Ten) have now gained three consecutive contests.

“In tough games, you are going to need everybody,” mentioned interim head coach Tim Skipper. “We preach all the time, you never know when your moment is going to happen. You just keep working hard, you keep executing, keep sawing wood, and when your opportunity comes, you take full opportunity of that. It was a whole team effort, and you can name a lot of people that contributed to this thing.”

Bhaghani’s kick within the remaining seconds marked the second game-winning subject purpose of his profession, each coming as a Bruin (at Hawai’i in Week 1 2024).

 

Iamaleava accomplished 21 of 35 passes for 211 yards and a landing. On the bottom, Frias II led the Bruins with 97 speeding yards and a landing on simply 4 carries. Jalen Berger additionally registered 65 speeding yards on his 19 touches.

 

Maryland quarterback Malik Washington compiled 210 yards by means of the air, finishing 23 of his 48 cross makes an attempt for one landing and one interception. Washington was additionally the main rusher for the Terrapins, posting 67 speeding yards on six makes an attempt.

 

Mokiao-Atimalala was UCLA’s main receiver, hauling in six catches for 102 yards. Kwazi Gilmer additionally recorded 56 receiving yards on 4 receptions.

 

UCLA fielded the opening kickoff, however noticed its drives stall on every of its first two possessions. The Bruins efficiently flipped the sector on each events, nonetheless, as punter Will Karoll pinned the Terrapins inside their very own 10-yard line with every of his first two kicks.

 

Maryland struck first after Sean O’Haire knocked a 24-yard subject purpose by means of the uprights early within the second quarter. The Terrapins mounted a 17-play, 88-yard drive that finally got here to an finish following a superb defensive stand from UCLA inside its personal five-yard line.

 

The Bruins instantly answered when Frias II raced for a 55-yard speeding landing to provide his crew the lead with 12:07 remaining within the half. This was UCLA’s most explosive play from scrimmage this season and Frias II’s first landing within the Blue and Gold. 

 

UCLA’s protection got here up with a takeaway when Isaiah Chisholm pressured Maryland’s DeJuan Williams to fumble and JonJon Vaughns shortly pounced on the free ball. Despite the superior subject place, the Bruins had been unable to capitalize as Iamaleava’s cross was intercepted on the Maryland 8-yard line. 

 

UCLA led Maryland by a 7-3 tally at halftime.

 

After each groups punted on their first two possessions of the second half, Maryland marched to the UCLA 2-yard line, however the Bruins’ protection held robust as soon as once more when Andre Jordan Jr. broke up a fourth-down cross in the long run zone to drive a turnover on downs.

 

However, on UCLA’s very subsequent snap, Iamaleava’s cross was intercepted and returned for a landing by Jamare Glasker, giving Maryland a 10-7 lead heading into the fourth quarter.

 

The Bruins practically pulled even when Iamaleava related on three passes to maneuver the offense to Maryland’s 38-yard line. UCLA opted for a 56-yard subject purpose try, however Bhaghani’s kick sailed simply large of the upright.

 

With 5:39 remaining, UCLA regained possession and Iamaleava delivered below strain, engineering an 8-play, 88-yard landing drive. He accomplished 4 passes on the march, together with a 14-yard dart to Mikey Matthews in the long run zone to reclaim the lead.

 

Moments later, Scooter Jackson snagged an interception off a tipped cross deep in Maryland territory, establishing Bhaghani’s 42-yard subject purpose simply earlier than the two-minute timeout.

 

The guests responded with poise, stringing collectively a 9-play, 75-yard drive to tie the sport at 17-17 with simply 40 seconds left on the clock.

 

The Bruins will journey to No. 3 Indiana for its subsequent contest on Saturday, Oct. 25. UCLA’s subsequent residence sport will happen towards Nebraska on Saturday, Nov. 8.