The UCLA men’s soccer team completed its double overtime upset of then-No. 15 Washington on Oct. 4 and boarded a flight to Los Angeles for its longest-remaining homestand of the 2015 schedule.
A pair of the Bruins’ youngest stars, however, didn’t make the return trip.
Freshman midfielder Jackson Yueill and freshman defender Malcolm Jones flew to Germany following the victory to join the United States U-20 Men’s National Team in the Four Nations Tournament.
In its first two matches, the U.S. stumbled to an 8-1 blowout loss to Germany before drawing 2-2 with Scotland. The national team’s third and final match will be Monday against Mexico.
Unranked UCLA (5-5-0, 1-1-0 Pac-12) will also play on Monday, hosting unranked San Diego State (5-3-2, 0-2-0) in its Pac-12 home opener. The match will kickstart a three-game stint that includes showdowns with No. 3 Stanford and unranked Cal.
The Aztecs have been unable to find their rhythm in recent weeks, losing their last two matches and three of their past four, after starting the season 4-0-2.
San Diego State has been a defensive team season, allowing an average of less than a goal per match. For his efforts, though, redshirt sophomore goalkeeper Adam Allmaras has received little help recently. The Aztecs lost their first two conference matches to No. 16 Oregon State and No. 17 Washington by a pair of 1-0 scores.
The Bruins will be without Yueill and Jones on Monday, as they are expected to return to the U.S. midweek.
Yueill has been one of the Bruins’ best offensive players this fall, with three goals and nine total points. Coach Jorge Salcedo’s short-term challenge will be finding a replacement in the midfield during Yueill’s absence. Defensively, Salcedo has options to fill the temporary void Jones leaves with numerous veterans anchoring the backfield.
On offense, the UCLA forwards, led by sophomore forward Seyi Adekoya, will try to pressure a sturdy San Diego State defense that has allowed multiple goals in only one game this year. Adekoya leads the Pac-12 in both goals scored and total points.
Compiled by Tanner Walters, Bruin Sports senior staff.
