Futagaki scores first career goal at UCLA

Former Fountain Valley High standout Ryan Futagaki scored his first

goal as a UCLA Bruin Wednesday to help host UCLA post a 3-0 victory over

Oregon State in the Bruins’ 1999 home opener.

Futagaki’s celebrated his first career goal with a flying karate

kick. The unassisted goal, which came at the 85:38 mark of the match, was

the game’s final score.

‘The best part of this game was in the end, getting three goals,’

said UCLA Coach Todd Saldana, whose Bruins improved to 6-1. ‘We’re not

all that happy with the way we played, but a lot of teams would be very

satisfied with a 3-0 win against Oregon State.’

Futagaki, a sophomore midfielder, was member of the 1999 bronze

medal-winning .S. Pan-American Games team, and is a member of the U.S.

Under-20 National Team, which competed at the recent World Youth

Championships.

Futagaki played in all 21 of the Bruins’ games during the 1998

season, starting in 12. His lone point during that season came on an

assist against Sacramento State.

At season’s end, Futagaki was voted Rookie of the Year by his

teammates.

White at Fountain Valley, Futagaki was named a 1997-98 Parade

All-American, was a two-time All-CIF selection, the Sunset League’s MVP

during his senior year, and also captained the Barons to two CIF Southern

Section Division I title games.

During his four-year varsity career at Fountain Valley, Futagaki

earned All-Sunset League first team honors in each of his four years.