Monday, November 17, 1997
Supporting cast proves decisive in playoff win
W. SOCCER:
Bruins shoot down No. 3 Pilots, 1-0,
as team unity prevailsBy Chris Umpierre
Daily Bruin Contributor
Everybody has heard about UCLA women’s soccer’s Traci Arkenberg,
the No. 15 scorer in the nation, but few have heard about
Arkenberg’s surrounding cast.
The Portland Pilots were the latest team to find out how
talented these surrounding players are.
Going into the match, the Pilots felt that if they stopped
Arkenberg that they’d also stop the Bruins.
Boy, were they were wrong.
With the Pilots underestimating the players around Arkenberg,
these same players helped to contribute to Portland’s demise.
Players stepped up wonderfully on both sides of the ball for the
team as the No. 13 UCLA women’s soccer team upset the No. 3
Portland Pilots, 1-0, on the road in the first round of the
playoffs.
In a game that was typical of the entire season, the Bruins
didn’t win the game with just one player but as a team.
"We played for each other and not for ourselves," Arkenberg
said.
"Our team unity is what got us the victory."
This team unity has played a huge role in the success of the
squad all year long.
But this year’s teamwork wasn’t the case in past years. In past
years UCLA would rely on Arkenberg to carry the squad. How well
Arkenberg did was how well the Bruins did.
The increased teamwork this year was no better displayed than in
Sunday’s playoff game.
"They all stepped up," Head Coach Joy Fawcett said. "They played
well together today."
One of these players to step up for the Bruins was sophomore
Beth Thompson.
With Portland sending double and triple teams at Arkenberg,
Thompson picked up the scoring load.
Thompson picked the right time to score the first goal of her
collegiate career as her goal at 42:55 of the first half proved to
be the game-winning one.
"I’m glad I could put one away in the playoffs," Thompson said.
"I was elated."
Despite not being able to get on the scoring board, Traci
Arkenberg did the best she could to help the team get the
victory.
"They were all over her," Fawcett said. "They were very physical
with her and the referee let it go."
"Traci (Arkenberg) was a team player today," Fawcett
continued.
Towards the end of the match Fawcett sent Arkenberg back to help
stave off the Pilots.
Arkenberg was largely responsible for stopping some Pilot
scoring chances in the conclusion of the match.
"What inspires the team is to see her put in the effort on the
defensive side," Fawcett said.
But the defense needed no inspiration as the team once again
stepped up for the team.
Spearheaded by goalie Lindsay Culp’s six saves, the defense
registered their fourth consecutive shutout.
The Bruins, whose win on Sunday gives the team an eleven game
winning streak, will take on Southern Methodist University (17-4-1)
next week on the road in the second round of the playoffs.
If SMU hopes to win they will need to learn from Portland’s
mistake and not only concentrate on Arkenberg but take in
consideration the entire talented Bruin squad.