NCAA men's tournament

Zizzo scores twice, once in overtime to rally UCLA past Duke 3-2 in quarterfinal.

Sal Zizzo celebrates goal that sent UCLA to its 12th final four. -- UCLA web site photo --

DURHAM, N.C. (Sunday, November 26, 2006) -- Sophomore midfielder Sal Zizzo scored two late goals, including one 30 seconds into sudden death, to allow No. 15 UCLA to erase a two-goal deficit and race past second-ranked Duke into the Men's College Cup before 4,130 at Koskinen Stadium this afternoon.

The tournament's top seed lost at home to the eighth seed, which traveled from the opposite coast. With the NCAA Division I Championship quarterfinal victory, UCLA (13-5-3) reached the final four for the 12th time as it seeks the school's fifth national title. The Bruins meet No. 4 Virginia, while third-ranked Wake Forest plays California-Santa Barbara Friday in the NCAA semifinals in St. Louis with the championship game Sunday.

UCLA controlled possession off the overtime kickoff with sophomore midfielder Jason Leopoldo carrying down the left sideline before crossing into the penalty area for Zizzo to put away his seventh goal of the year and fifth of the postseason at 90:30.

The sequence went just as UCLA coach Jorge Salcedo planned it. "We talked about the play before (overtime)," Zizzo said. "The plan was to get on the end-line and make a near-post run. Jason drove the ball around and I tucked it away."

The Bruins' comeback began late in the first half with freshman striker David Estrada and freshman midfielder Kyle Nakazawa working a give-and-go. Nakazawa crossed into the box and Leopoldo slotted it past junior goalkeeper Justin Papadakis, narrowing the UCLA deficit to 2-1 with 4:55 left before halftime.

Shortly after Bruins goalkeeper Eric read made an outstanding save on a shot from close range by Duke junior midfielder Tomek Charowski as the game entered into its latter phase, Leopoldo forced a corner kick. Zizzo tapped a short kick to Nakazawa, who passed to Mike Zaher just above the box. Zaher found Zizzo, who converted for a 2-2 tie at 77:11.

"This was obviously a huge win for us," Salcedo said. "We showed a lot of character down 2-0 on the road and against the No.1 team in the country. This was a tough game for anyone to lose. Duke had a great year. Hats off to them and their season."

Duke (18-4-1) needed just 25 seconds to take a 1-0 lead after junior forward Spencer Wadsworth nailed the top left corner of the net from 15 yards for his eighth goal of 2006.

Senior midfielder Chris Loftus scored from 15 yards off Wadsworth's corner kick to make it 2-0 with 18:26 elapsed.

Papadakis made three strong saves between then and when UCLA got on the scoreboard, making a diving save on Estrada in the 20th minute, tipping Leopoldo's attempt over the crossbar in the 22nd and stopping Zizzo in the 37th.

Duke coach John Rennie was denied his 400th career victory in 28 years at Duke. He has a 399-153-33 (.710) record with the Blue Devils and a 443-199-47 (.677) mark in 33 years overall.

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