NCAA SOCCER : UCLA Sheds Past Defeats With Victory

After three years and 115 minutes, UCLA finally unburdened itself Sunday by defeating Alabama Birmingham, 3-2, in overtime in the first round of the NCAA men’s soccer tournament at Westwood.

And it all began with a little run.

Julio Umana darted from behind teammate Eddie Lewis and sprinted down the left wing into open field to receive Lewis’ short pass.

A quick, accurate cross to the far post from Umana found the head of Robbie LaBelle, who sent the ball back across the goal to the dangerous left foot of Ante Razov.

Twenty-five minutes into overtime, Razov easily directed the ball into the back of the goal to end UCLA’s three-game losing streak and give the Bruins their first postseason victory since 1991.

Razov, a junior, raced from the goal, tearing off his shirt as if to strip away the bad memories.

“It was more than a monkey,” UCLA Coach Sigi Schmid said of the losing streak. “It was a big, old, giant gorilla.”

UCLA had lost to San Diego in the first round of the tournament each of the last two seasons. This year, it looked as if the Bruins might struggle again after they suffered late-season injuries to three key starters and were shut out in their last three games.

But with UCLA’s starters injury-free for only the third time this season, the Bruins were ready for the tournament. LaBelle scored UCLA’s first goal in four games to tie the score, 1-1, in the first half.

“After we scored that first goal, it was like, we can really do this, we can score,” LaBelle said.

UCLA (16-4), looking stronger than Alabama Birmingham (15-4-1), dominated the overtime.

UCLA will play at Southern Methodist (15-3-1) in the second round this weekend.

The date and time will be announced today. SMU defeated Wisconsin in the first round, 2-1.