MEN'S SOCCER: UC SANTA BARBARA 2, UCLA 1 GAUCHOS DENY UCLA 100TH TITLE HEAVILY FAVORED BRUINS CAN'T RALLY FROM 2-0 DEFICIT.

Byline: RAMONA SHELBURNE Staff Writer

UCLA's 100th national title celebration will have to be put on ice a little longer.

The Bruins' hopes were frozen by a determined squad from UC Santa Barbara on Sunday afternoon in the NCAA men's soccer national championship game at a frigid, snow-lined field at Robert R. Hermann Stadium in St. Louis.

Unseeded UC Santa Barbara upended the heavily favored Bruins 2-1 behind a goal and an assist from sophomore striker Nick Perera to claim the second national title in school history and first for the soccer program.

``It's hard to explain how we can play so well (Saturday in a 4-0 victory over Virginia) and so poorly today,'' UCLA coach Jorge Salcedo said. ``We struggled to possess the ball, our rhythm was lacking. It just wasn't our day.''

The Gauchos got on the scoreboard early as Perera banged home a cross from Tyler Rosenlund in the third minute of play. The Gauchos were able to control the play in the first half with their physical back line, led by All-American defender Andy Iro, who effectively bottled up the Bruins leading scorer, David Estrada (12 goals).

UCSB nearly added to the lead in the 27th minute when Perera took a slick feed from Bryan Byrne in behind the Bruins defenders and fired a shot past UCLA goalie Eric Reed. The ball glanced off the far goal post and bounced away.

UCLA came close to equalizing late in the first half when freshman midfielder Jason Leopoldo (Thousand Oaks High) was taken down in the penalty box, but no foul was called.

The Gauchos added to the lead in the 60th minute when Eric Avila finished off a cross from Perera with a low line drive to the far post.

The Bruins (14-6-4), who overcame season-ending injuries to several key players this year, halved the lead in the 79thminute on a sliding, left-footed goal by Leopoldo and nearly tied it less than a minute later when Sal Zizzo got free on a breakaway and was fouled outside the box. Mike Zaher's ensuing free kick was tipped by UCSB goalie Kyle Reynish (Hart of Newhall) out of harm's way.

The Bruins threatened again in the 86th minute, when defender Sean Alvarado came within inches of tapping in a dangerous free kick by Kyle Nakazawa.

Both teams were playing on less than 24 hours' rest.

UCLA entered the match as a heavy favorite, having lost to the Gauchos only once in 32 previous meetings. UCLA defeated Santa Barbara 3-1 on Oct. 5.

The Gauchos have gone on an incredible run since that game. UCSB went 11-1 to close the season after starting 7-6.

UCLA was looking for its fifth men's soccer title and 100th NCAA team title. A win would've capped an incredible weekend for the Bruins, who upset No. 2 USC in football on Saturday.

``We would've loved to be the program that won the 100th title for UCLA,'' Salcedo said. ``But I'm sure another program will get it done soon. It's just disappointing to play so well in the playoffs and play so poorly today. ... We'll be back next year though. I think we'll be more athletic and more dynamic in some ways.''

Associated Press contributed

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2 photos

Photo:

(1) UCLA's Jason Leopoldo reflects on UCLA's loss in the NCAA championship game as UC Santa Barbara players celebrate.

Tom Gannam/Associated Press

(2) UC Santa Barbara's Eric Avila scores past UCLA goalkeeper Eric Reed in the second half.

Kyle Ericson/Associated Press