All the Bruins needed to earn another win was another goal from their top scorer.
UCLA Women’s Football No. 6 (3-0) earned a narrow 1-0 win over Santa Clara (1-3) on Sunday, with senior forward Sunshine Fontes’ first-half goal proving be the difference in the competition. The 12th-minute game-winning goal came on the heels of a Fontes hat-trick on Thursday against CSUN, which helped the Bruins to a 6-0 win in the hometown showdown.
The Broncos entered Sunday after a 7-0 loss to TCU on Thursday, setting up Sunday’s game to be another blowout in favor of blue and gold. Santa Clara held firm on their home turf, however, tightening the clamps after Fontes’ lone goal and keeping UCLA off the board for the rest of the game.
Graduate forward Ally Cook nearly gave the Bruins a 2-0 lead in the 19th minute, but Broncos goaltender Felicity Baker instead recorded her first of four saves of the day. Freshman midfielder Ally Lemos and freshman midfielder Sofia Cook also took shots later in the first half, but Baker denied them as well.
Junior striker Reilyn Turner had his shot stopped by Baker in the 67th, and Fontes’ attempt at a dagger from outside the box in the 70th sailed several yards above the crossbar. The Bruins were called offside four times and didn’t attempt a corner kick.
The lack of success in the offensive third didn’t cost UCLA the game, however, as graduate goaltender Lauren Brzycky and then the defense were busy holding down the fort on the other side of the field.
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Brzycky made a low save in the 27th minute to prevent the tie, then did it again in the 64th to knock the Broncos off the board. The back line helped successfully clear both of Santa Clara’s corner kicks, with neither attempt even leading to a home side shot.
The Bruins have recorded three clean sheets in a row to start the young season. Brzycky went the distance against Iowa and Santa Clara but also added 30 minutes of goaltending for the combined shutout against CSUN.
UCLA is now watching a key East Coast road trip, taking on No. 5 Duke at 4:30 p.m. Thursday before challenging No. 1 North Carolina at 9 a.m. Sunday. The last of two high-profile matches will air on ACC Network and Watch ESPN.
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PHOTO COURTESY OF JESUS RAMIREZ/UCLA ATHLETICS
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