EDWARD LIN Freshman forward Sarah
Gayle-Swanson passes the ball away from a Trojan in UCLA’s
win over USC earlier this season. UCLA lost 1-0 to Arizona State on
Friday, but defeated Arizona on Sunday, 8-0.
By Jeff Agase
Daily Bruin Contributor
Eight was more than enough for the UCLA women’s soccer
team on Sunday, but one elusive goal Friday night made the
difference.
The No. 5 Bruins (15-3-1 overall, 6-2-1 Pac-10) pounded on
conference doormat Arizona 8-0 Sunday in Tucson after dropping a
disappointing 1-0 double overtime game to Arizona State just two
days before.
“They really bunkered on us,” UCLA head coach
Jillian Ellis said of Arizona State. “They played low
pressure and they got numbers behind the ball. It made it very
difficult to create scoring chances.”
On Friday night in Tempe, the Bruins outshot the Sun Devils
18-4, but All-American Stacey Tullock registered the only goal, in
the 110th minute of play. Tullock soared a shot from ten yards out
over goalie CiCi Peterson’s head and into the net.
This was the kind of déjà vu the Bruins didn’t
want to experience. On Oct. 22 in Seattle, UCLA dropped its first
Pac-10 game of the season to Washington in overtime despite
outshooting the Huskies 25-3.
The Sun Devil game plan reeked of staunch conservatism.
“They came out in a very defensive set,” Ellis said.
“They played five in the back ““ that’s quite a
lot.”
The proverbial salt in the Bruins’ wound came with
knowledge that conference leader and second-ranked Washington
dropped a 1-0 shocker to cross-state rival Washington State.
“We found out right before,” Ellis said. “We
knew we still couldn’t win the Pac-10. We were just trying to
focus, because Arizona State was playing for a playoff berth. That
was extreme motivation for them.”
A UCLA victory could have vaulted the Bruins above Washington in
the national rankings and given the squad an irrefutable case for a
bye in the NCAA playoffs. With their last game of the season just
two days away, the Bruins were in danger of an end-of-the season
meltdown.
Instead, UCLA decided to vent its anger on hapless Arizona
Sunday in Tucson.
The Bruins scored eight goals for the second time this season
and dealt the Wildcats their biggest loss in school history,
8-0.
“We were pretty bummed,” freshman Sarah-Gayle
Swanson said of Friday’s loss. “It gave us a lot of
energy for Arizona.”
Swanson’s energy translated into a hat trick and an
assist. Teammates Stephanie Rigamat and Staci Duncan registered two
goals and an assist each.
“I think we showed today that we can get it done on the
road,” Duncan said. “I put some goals in the net, but
it was a good day for everybody.”
The Bruins dominated every facet of the match, outshooting the
Wildcats 31-1 and earning nine corner kick attempts to
Arizona’s one.
Despite the fact that they were overmatched, Arizona, unlike
Arizona State, didn’t sit back on the ball. Instead, they
tried to run with the speedy Bruins.
“I respect Arizona because they didn’t
bunker,” Ellis said. “They decided to play us heads up.
They are a team in a building process, and I respect the fact that
they came out and tried to play with us.”
The convincing win put a sugary gloss on an otherwise sour
weekend of soccer, but Friday night’s setback put things in
perspective for Ellis’ Bruins.
“We’re not going to look past anybody. Any team on
any given day can upset us,” Ellis said. “I said to
them, “˜Now you know the difference between performing and not
performing.’ Mainly that’s a psychological barrier.
We’re the same team physically.”
Sunday evening, the 48-team draw for the 2000 NCAA Women’s
soccer championship was selected. The Bruins received the No. 6
seed overall and will play at Drake Stadium Saturday at 1 p.m.
against the winner of the match between USC and the University of
San Diego.