SEATTLE, WASHINGTON – Sergi Solans' hat trick propelled UCLA to a commanding 4-2 victory over Washington on Thursday night at Husky Soccer Stadium, extending the Bruins' winning streak to three matches before 2,184 spectators and handing the Huskies their second consecutive defeat.
The match exploded to life in the thirty-fourth minute. Charlie Kosakoff opened the scoring for Washington, converting Joe Dale's precise cross to give the hosts an early advantage. UCLA responded within sixty seconds when Sebastian Rincon and Philip Naef combined to release Solans, who finished clinically to level the score at 1-1.
Just two minutes later, Kosakoff struck again, completing a swift counter-attack to restore Washington's lead. However, the halftime advantage proved short-lived as UCLA seized control after the break.
Five minutes into the second half, Osato Enabulele nodded home Kosakoff's pinpoint delivery to equalize at 2-2. The Bruins' momentum proved unstoppable as Solans claimed his second in the seventy-fourth minute, latching onto Schinieder Mimy's through ball and slotting past Washington's goalkeeper.
Oliver Roche extended UCLA's advantage two minutes later, converting Konstantinos Georgallides' assist to make it 4-2. Solans completed his hat trick in the eighty-second minute, meeting Naef's cross with a powerful header that sealed the victory.
Washington's attacking statistics—twenty shots to UCLA's sixteen—masked the Bruins' clinical efficiency. UCLA converted four of six shots on target, while Washington managed just two goals from six attempts on frame. The Huskies' frustration showed as Dylan Teves, Markus Fochler, and Gael Gilbert received yellow cards late in the match.
The victory improves UCLA to 6-6-4 overall and 5-3-2 in conference play, positioning them strongly for the final stretch. Washington falls to 10-5-2, facing mounting pressure to regain form after consecutive defeats that threaten their conference standing.
KEY PLAYERS:
Sergi Solans (UCLA) – Three clinical finishes demonstrated his predatory instincts and secured the victory for the Bruins.