November 27, 2011
END OF THE LINE
UCLA eliminates Rutgers men in NCAAs

LOS ANGELES – The Rutgers men ended their NCAA Division I tournament run at No. 5 UCLA in the third round, falling, 3-0, at Drake Stadium on Sunday.

Chandler Hoffman scored twice for the Bruins (17-4-1), which will play Louisville in the quarterfinals this weekend. Rutgers finished at 10-7-4.

“It was unfortunate to bow out that way,” Rutgers coach Dan Donigan said. “I am still very, very proud of this group and I’ll still look back on this season as a success. We will continue to build off this and improve our program. Hats off to UCLA, because they are a very good soccer team and they deserve to move on to the Elite Eight.”

Hoffman scored 41 seconds into the game. Ryan Hollingshead drove down the right side, pushing the ball ahead to Patrick Matchett, who crossed it to the middle of the pitch. Hoffman scored to the near post, his 17th of the season.

The Bruins tallied their second goal with 1:46 left in the first half. Kelyn Rowe rocketed a shot towards redshirt junior goalkeeper Kevin McMullen (Blackwood, N.J.), who made a diving save to his left. Victor Chavez was there for the rebound, however, placing the ball in the bottom right of the goal.

Hoffman scored his second goal in the 48th minute. Hollingshead started the progression, getting the ball to Rowe in the middle of the field. Hoffman one-timed Rowe’s pass from the far side of the box into the net.

In the ninth minute, senior Sam Archer (Queens, N.Y.) nearly knotted the score with a strike from 15 yards out. The forward belted the ball on frame at UCLA keeper Brian Rowe, who had to make a diving save to his right.

Junior Joe Setchell (Kings Lynn, England) made two blocking saves on the night. The first came in the 27th minute off a Hoffman shot. In the 84th minute, the center back dove at the far side of the net for a kick save on a Evan Raynr attempt. McMullen made four saves.