LOS ANGELES – The LMU men's soccer team is headed to the Sweet Sixteen of the NCAA Men's Soccer Tournament for the first time in school history after defeating No. 13 UCLA 1-0 on Sunday night in Los Angeles.  

 

Tyger Smalls delivered the game-winner in the 30th minute of play and the Lions withstood a serious onslaught of UCLA shots to advance to the next round. 

 

Smalls delivered his third goal of the tournament on a UCLA miscue. Massimo Oedekoven Pomponi booted a long ball that a UCLA defender attempted to head back to his center back. The ball cleared the center back directly into the path of Smalls. Smalls took a pair of dribbles and then drove a right-footed shot past the outstretched keeper into the far post to give LMU the advantage. It was the Lions' first shot of the match. Smalls records his seventh goal of the season and third of the tournament. 

 

Pomponi also impressed with a handful of top-drawer saves. In the first half, it was a full-extension one-handed palm away that kept the Lions ahead. In the second half, Pomponi performed an impressive double save to keep the Bruins off the scoresheet. Pomponi parried a long-distance effort into the feet of a Bruin striker, but he reacted quickly and made both stops. 

 

The shutout was Pomponi's seventh of the season.  

 

The Lions sat back in the second half and absorbed the Bruins pressure while finding a handful of opportunities to counterattack.  

 

Smalls had a shot early in the second half that went out for a corner before finding space again and unleashing a right-footed effort that was parried away.  

 

Although the second goal failed to materialize, the Lions made do with the one and wheeled away in celebration when the clock hit 90:00.  

 

The Lions will once again host an NCAA Tournament match on Saturday, November 25. The James Madison Dukes will be in town with a shot at the Elite Eight on the line. The match will begin at 7:00 p.m. (PT) and will be broadcast on ESPN+.