Friday, September 26, 1997
UCLA kicks playoff hopes into high gear early in season
PREVIEW: Strong recruiting class, returning seniors and fresh
memories fuel Bruins
By Chris Umpierre
Daily Bruin Contributor
After last year’s learning experience, no one had to remind the
1997 UCLA women’s soccer team of the importance of getting the
season off to a fast start
The Bruins lost four of their first five games in 1996. The
squad was then forced to go on a nine-game unbeaten streak to put
them in position for a NCAA playoff bid with two games left.
Because of their 1-4 start, the Bruins had to beat Oregon and
Stanford in their last two regular season games to qualify for the
playoffs.
After a 2-0 win over the Beavers, the team was in a must-win
situation against Stanford. After the Cardinal jumped out to a 1-0
lead, the Bruins scored late in the second half to push the game
into overtime. But since the Bruins had to exert so much effort to
put the team in contention for a playoff spot, the squad had
nothing left in the overtime session as the Cardinal scored to win
the game, the Pac-10 crown, and a playoff spot in the NCAA
tournament.
Head coach Joy Fawcett cites last year’s experience as one of
the motivating factors that has helped her 1997 squad jump out to a
6-1 start, the best start in a season in UCLA women’s soccer’s
short history, and a No. 11 spot in the Soccer News poll.
"It has helped them to remain focused," Fawcett said of last
year’s loss. "They know that they can’t make any little mistakes
and let down at all in the season."
Fawcett also attributes her team’s hot start to a mixture of a
strong off-season conditioning program and senior leadership.
"(The team’s conditioning going into the season) is a lot
different from past years," Fawcett said. "(In prior years) they
kind of came in unfit and had to take a while to get started …
This year is one of the first years the players have all come in
fit."
Fawcett also points to her seven returning seniors – five of
them start – whose experience has helped the team in close games,
as well as a good recruiting class as other reasons for the great
start.
"(The seniors) all came in ready to play," Fawcett said. "Our
good crop of freshmen kind of round out the seniors’ experience
with a lot of talent and speed."
One of those freshmen is Venus James. The 5-foot-6-inch forward
from Oakland earned a spot in the starting lineup this fall. James
has seven points and two goals in seven games, including a
game-winning goal in the Cal State Fullerton game.
But there is another major reason the team has begun the season
so well: that is the play and leadership of senior Traci Arkenberg.
The two time All-Pac-10 first teamer has returned for her last
season in the blue and gold in great fashion.
As if owning 12 school scoring records was not enough for
Arkenberg, the 5-foot-8-inch forward has begun this season as if
she wants to put her records out of reach for any Bruin for years
to come. Arkenberg currently has 17 points and seven goals through
seven games. She’s on pace to shatter her old record of 43 points
in a season. She may also surpass the record 18 goals she scored in
1995.
But don’t be misguided to think that Arkenberg is carrying the
team as she has been forced to do in previous years. Fawcett is
very quick to point out that Arkenberg has quite a stellar cast
behind her.
"That’s the good thing about this team, (Arkenberg) doesn’t have
to (carry the team)," Fawcett said.
Fawcett regards this year’s squad as the best team to ever don
the blue and gold in UCLA women’s soccer history. "In years past
she’s had to carry the team. She did all the scoring. She’s done a
lot but I think she has more help. She has better players to get
her the ball, she’s got other people that can score like Venus.
Shannon (Thomas) has been stepping up and scoring goals. I don’t
think she has to carry the team as she’s had to in years past.
She’s been relieved of a lot of that pressure."
"She knows that other people will help get her the ball,"
Fawcett continued. "Before she had to get the ball and score the
goals. She has more help this year than ever before."
Arkenberg and the rest of the talented Bruins will put their 6-1
record and No. 11 ranking on the line today as they visit the
University of San Diego Toreros.
If the Bruins continue to stay focused throughout the season,
their 6-1 start will relieve them of the pressure of having to win
in the conclusion of the season, which plagued the team last
year.
The great start to the season leads Fawcett to believe that the
team will make the playoffs this year.
Daily Bruin file photo
Midfielder Shannon Thomas was a step ahead of OSU during their
match last year.