LOS ANGELES -- The top-ranked UCLA women's soccer team began its NCAA title defense with a 3-0 win against Maryland in the season opener for both schools.
The Bruins dominated the offensive stats, outshooting the Terrapins 22-0.
UCLA scored its first two goals 30 seconds apart, with Megan Oyster heading in a corner kick by Rosie White at 26:21 and Sam Mewis scoring at 26:51 after dribbling from beyond midfield and launching a shot from about 30 yards out.
Great team passing marked UCLA's third goal at 32:57. Caprice Dydasco sent a pass to Taylor Smith, who one-timed it to Sarah Killion. Killion then chipped it to a breaking White, who went upper far post to make it 3-0 Bruins.
2 quick goals for @UCLAWSoccer. @MeganOyster (pictured) gets the first from a corner. @sammymewy gets the second. 2-0 pic.twitter.com/VtxdscZIo5
— Aubrey Yeo (@aubreyyeo) August 23, 2014
UCLA's defense shut down Maryland the entire game, allowing zero shots and no corner kicks to make it easy for goalkeeper Katelyn Rowland to pick up her 37th career shutout, leaving her just one away from tying the all-time school record of 38 held by Valerie Henderson.
"I thought we played well for all 90 minutes," UCLA head coach Amanda Cromwell said. "Taylor Smith had a phenomenal game; she was on. Our whole attack, the movement was very good. And having 22 shots to zero, that's phenomenal."
The game would have gotten out of hand if not for a few Maryland stops. In the 48th minute, the Bruins earned a penalty kick when Smith was fouled in the box, but Killion's shot was saved by Terrapin goalkeeper Rachelle Beanlands. Midfielder Riley Barger also stopped a goal in the 54th minute, clearing an Abby Dahlkemper shot at the left post.
The Bruins (1-0) return to action on Sunday against UC Irvine at Marshall Field at Drake Stadium. Maryland (0-1) finishes its California trip Sunday at Pepperdine.
