It was the second time this season these two teams met and this time around the San Diego State women’s soccer team was hoping to avenge its earlier loss to the University of California, Los Angeles. However, last Friday the Aztecs couldn’t control the second-seeded Bruins and they loss 3-0 in the first round of the NCAA Championships.

Within the first 43 seconds of the game, UCLA’s junior midfielder Sam Mewis scored to give the team an early lead.

SDSU was looking to answer back with a goal of its own, but the Aztecs fell short in the first half and the Bruins offense proved to be too much as UCLA sophomore forward Taylor Smith found the back of the net from the right side in the 29th minute.

The Aztecs remained 0-2 heading into intermission. In the second half, the Bruins made their final goal of the game in the 52nd minute to pad their lead. SDSU ran out of time and desperately looked to make its first goal of the game.

Sophomore midfielder Victoria Barba attempted a corner kick, which almost made it in, but UCLA junior goalkeeper Katelyn Rowland pushed it away just in time to ensure SDSU remained scoreless.

The Aztecs fought hard to the very last seconds of the game, however, the Bruins prevailed outscoring and outshooting the Aztecs 16-4. Junior forward Hannah Keane led the team with two shots. Defensively, SDSU redshirt sophomore goalkeeper Melanie Vaughn had seven saves while Rowland had two.

It was the Bruins who ended the Aztecs NCAA tournament journey last year, however, it was in the third round with the same score, 3-0.

SDSU finishes its season 13-7-2 overall and is the second team in Mountain West history to win both the MW regular-conference season and tournament titles in back-to-back seasons.

Photo by Jordan Owen, Senior Staff Photographer