By Michelle Coppolella
Daily Bruin Contributor
Although dewed-over bleachers and bundled up fans may have given
the impression that regular season action started early this year,
the No. 2 UCLA women’s soccer team continued its spring
season Saturday as it tied LMU 0-0 at North Athletic Field.
With a record of 3-1-1 in spring action, the NCAA Championship
runner-ups played three 30-minute sessions, giving the Bruins the
opportunity to clear the bench and use as many players as
possible.
“To win an NCAA championship, you have to have depth to
your team,” Head Coach Jillian Ellis said. “We need to
have players step up off the bench and come through for
us.”
Despite an evenly matched game, the Bruins had numerous
opportunities to capitalize. Close to the game’s end, an LMU
defender intentionally passed the ball back to the goalkeeper,
resulting in a UCLA indirect kick. Freshman Lindsay Greco launched
a shot that hit the crossbar, leaving the crowd in awe and the
Bruins again empty-handed.
“I wasn’t particularly pleased with the result today
because I expect them to be successful,” Ellis said.
“But as far as development and evolution throughout the team,
I am very pleased.”
The Bruins will take on USC this Saturday in a game that is
always exhilarating, whether in regular season or spring
season.
In men’s action, the young, vibrant Bruins of today
couldn’t keep up with the experienced, aging Bruins of
yesterday as the UCLA men’s soccer team fell to the alumni
2-1 on Sunday at the North Athletic Field.
A scoreless first half filled with breakaways and numerous
opportunities to score left the Bruins frustrated. Dominating and
outshooting the alumni nine to three, the awarding of a penalty
shot to the alumni in the final minute of the first half had the
crowd on its feet. However, freshman goalkeeper DJ Countess came
through for the current Bruins with an incredible save and they
exited the first half unharmed.
The second half was again Bruin dominated as UCLA came out
firing from the start. Freshman forward Cliff McKinley had a
breakaway and managed to beat alumni goalkeeper Kevin Shepela. With
an open net in front of him, McKinley was unable to finish as an
alumni defender came from nowhere and ushered the ball out of the
goal.
Finally, in the 24th minute sophomore midfielder Jimmy Frazelle
rocketed a shot to the back of the net, giving the Bruins a 1-0
lead.
But five minutes later alumni forward Nick Thesloff (’95)
countered and launched an low shot to the bottom left corner of the
net, leaving Countess no opportunity to stop it.
With the game tied, in the 40th minute alumni forward McKinley
Tennyson Jr. (2000) sailed a shot over Countess’ head and
gave the alumni a 2-1 lead that they held for the rest of the
game.
“I’ve been practicing with the team lately so it was
funny to score on them,” Tennyson said. “It’s
nice to let us old guys go out and mix it up with the young talent
of today.”
But it wasn’t over yet. In the last minute of the game,
freshman forward Matt Taylor was fouled inside the penalty box and
UCLA was awarded a penalty kick. Frazelle took the kick for the
Bruins, but alumnus Shepela had a stellar save to seal the victory
for the alumni.
“I knew I was going to save it,” Shepela said.
The Bruins will close out their spring schedule with a cancer
benefit game at Cal State Bakersfield on Friday.