CARSON, Calif. - The Chicago Fire closed the west coast leg of training camp with a 2-1 setback to UCLA at the Home Depot Center Friday morning.
With the majority of Fire veteran players watching from the sidelines, the Bruins struck twice in the opening half. David Estrada finished a header off Sal Zizzo's cross in the 18th minute, which was followed by a successful penalty kick from Michael Stephens in the 21st minute.
Chicago closed to within a goal in the 36th minute when Calen Carr tapped in a rebound in front of goalkeeper Brian Perk, who seconds earlier turned away a Thiago shot at the doorstep.
The Fire dominated the second half of play, but couldn't find the equalizer despite several quality scoring opportunities. Fire goalkeeper David Mahoney started the contest before being spelled by Nick Noble in the second half. Noble, a product of West Virginia University, recorded one of the game's best saves, stopping James Jaramillo point-blank in the 52nd minute.
Dave Sarachan's squad returns to Chicago for a five-day break before resuming training camp in Norman, Okla., March 15-18. The Fire returns to exhibition action on St. Patrick's Day, taking on FC Dallas at the University of Oklahoma.
Notes: Chicago owns a 4-4-1 preseason mark with three exhibitions left before the Major League Soccer (MLS) opener on April 7 ... the Bruins are coached by Jorge Salcedo, who played for the Fire in 1998 ... UCLA advanced to last year's NCAA Soccer Cup Final.
Scoring Summary:
UCLA - David Estrada (Sal Zizzo) 18
UCLA - Michael Stephens (penalty kick) 21
CHI - Calen Carr (Thiago) 36
Bruins Lineup (3-5-2): GK-Brian Perk, D-Mike Zaher, D-Sean Alvarado (Patrick Rickards 46), D-14 Edwige Ligonde, MF-Jason Leopoldo, MF-Michael Stephens, MF-Danny Suits (James Jaramillo 46), MF-Kyle Nakazawa, MF-Greg Folk, F-David Estrada, F-Sal Zizzo (Andrew Sinderhoff 86).
Fire Lineup (3-5-2): GK-David Mahoney (Nick Noble 46), D-Jordan Russolillo (Jim Curtin 62), D-Osei Telesford (Daniel Woolard 62), D-Dasan Robinson (C.J. Brown 69), MF-Brian Plotkin (Mike Banner 57), MF-Thiago (Ivan Guerrero 75), MF-Logan Pause (Bakary Soumare 60), MF-Floyd Franks (Derek Kosek 72), MF-Erik Hort (Jerson Monteiro 57), F-Chad Barrett (Mark Totten 69), F-Calen Carr (Gonzalo Segares 80).
Discipline Summary
CHI - Mike Banner (caution) 59
UCLA - Mike Zaher (caution) 77
Referee: Miguel Chicas
Referee Assistants: Alejandro Mariscal, Modesto Guillen
