UCLA, Indiana go head-to-head

Friday, October 30, 1998

M.SOCCER: Four talented teams begin battle for title in weekend tournament

By Moin Salahuddin

Daily Bruin Contributor

It was a 1-0 triple-overtime victory in the 1997 NCAA Semifinals. A victory that will be etched in everyone's minds forever.

The UCLA Bruins and Indiana Hoosiers met in that epic match last year, and the Bruins emerged victorious. UCLA went on to win the NCAA Championship in the following game, while the previously undefeated Hoosiers went home.

Indiana will be seeking revenge this year, except in a different context. The top-ranked Hoosiers will be participating this weekend in the 14th annual UCLA Pacific Soccer Classic presented by Carl's Jr. The host Bruins (11-2), Indiana (15-1), Loyola Marymount (4-8-1) and St. Mary's (5-9) will participate.

The tournament will start today at Spaulding Field. In the first match, Loyola Marymount (LMU) will take on Indiana at 5:30 p.m. The third-ranked Bruins will then play against St. Mary's at 8 p.m. On Sunday, LMU will face St. Mary's at 10:30 a.m. at the North Athletic Field. Following that game, UCLA will play arch-rival Indiana at 1 p.m.

"This weekend is going to be tough," UCLA assistant coach Steve Rammel said. "We have to play St. Mary's, and they're a good team. Sometimes people will overlook them and focus on Indiana. But I think our guys will do well (tonight). If we do the things we're supposed to be doing, we should do well."

The rematch with Indiana will be the biggest test for UCLA since their title match against Virginia last year. The Bruins will face the top-ranked defense in the nation, as the Hoosiers sport a goals against average (GAA) of 0.26. The Bruins will counter with an offense that scores over three goals a game.

"We're all really hyped up for this Indiana match," goalkeeper Nick Rimando said. "Friday is going to be a tough match as well against St. Mary's. We want to play as a team and come out on Sunday with a victory Friday. Indiana was a tough match last year in the (NCAA) semifinals. We're looking forward to that match and making a statement."

In the NCAA semifinals last year, each team held the other scoreless for 131 minutes until UCLA forward McKinley Tennyson, Jr. scored the game-winning goal. Tennyson, born and raised in Indiana, sent the Hoosiers home.

Despite losing, the Hoosiers possessed an incredible amount of talent offensively. Returning for the rematch will be 20-plus scorers Aleksey Korol, Lazo Alavanja and Demo Kovalenko. And their defense might be even better.

Indiana's defense is led by goalkeeper T.J. Hannig, who leads the nation with a 0.26 GAA and has allowed only four goals in 1,408 minutes.

The Bruins will counter with an offense led by Player of the Year candidate Seth George. George has scored 27 points this season while midfielder Sasha Victorine has contributed a team-high of seven assists.

The Bruin defense is similar to that of Indiana, one that goalkeeper Rimando has manned well. Rimando has allowed only six goals this season, for a 0.53 GAA.

The Pacific Soccer Classic has a rich history. The host UCLA has won the Classic a record nine times, including the last two. Indiana won one Classic title in 1987, while the LMU Lions and the St. Mary's Gaels are making their debuts.

The Classic has had many of the top U.S. players participate in it, including Paul Caliguiri, Cobi Jones, Alexi Lalas, Eric Wynalda, Joe-Max Moore and others. It has also produced four NCAA Champions (UCLA in 1985, 1990, 1997 and Duke in 1986).

If the Bruins can win the tournament, as they have done the past two years, they will place themselves in a position for a top playoff spot.

"I think our team is doing well," head coach Sigi Schmid said. "We're sort of in the same position we were in last year at this point. I know we went into our tournament last year and said that our game with Duke, who was having a good season at the time, was going to be a defining moment."

To win the tournament, a point system will be used where each win will be two points while a tie is one point. Head-to-head competition, goal differential, and goals scored will be used as tie-breakers, if necessary.

Besides the aforementioned Hoosiers and Bruins, there are also two local teams who could win the prestigious tournament title.

St. Mary's has struggled this season, while taking home only five victories. The Gaels are led by junior forward Jon Gordon and defender Leo Cuellar. Goalkeeper Steve Reardon has a 1.38 GAA while recording three shutouts.

Loyola Marymount is coached by former Bruin Paul Krumpe and has played their competition tough despite their record. The Lions took both the UCLA squad and Washington to double overtime this season, before losing 1-2. Brad Myrand leads LMU with eight points. Goalkeeper Jerad Bailey holds a 1.39 GAA and has accumulated 53 saves, including a school-record 13 versus the Bruins.

However, almost all of the attention will be focused on the match Sunday.

"We play Indiana and I think nothing has to be said about that," Rammel said. "They (Indiana) are gonna be up for the game, just as we will."

Both Indiana and UCLA field similar teams in every aspect. The Hoosiers and Bruins have potent offenses and deadly defenses. Their ability to control the midfield as well as scoring at crucial times is evident by their records. Along with their incredible talent is the superb coaching of both sides.

Coaching the Hoosiers is Jerry Yeagley, who has the highest active winning percentage (.827) of all soccer coaches in the NCAA. Just behind him is Schmid, who has compiled a .811 winning percentage.

The all-time series between the Hoosiers and Bruins, 5-5, is as even as the talent that both possess. UCLA has won the last two matches in this battle of the titans.

"We're ready," Schmid said. "We have a couple of injuries with Shaun Tsakiris and Junior Gonzalez being out. Outside of that, we're fairly healthy. We might have Tennyson back to play and that will help us too."

"Indiana is a big game," junior midfielder Pete Vagenas said. "I foresee us playing really well.

"We're gonna show the rest of the country that we're back to defend our title in that match against Indiana. It's time to make a statement."

The Bruins need to make a winning statement if they want to prove that they are going to repeat as national champions once again.

"We want the No. 1 spot back," said Rammel.

DERRICK KUDO/Daily Bruin

Seth George controls the ball against Fresno State earlier this season.

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