The Bruins tacked on an eighth win to their streak this season with the sun glaring down on Westwood.
In a 4-0 blowout, No. 5 UCLA women’s soccer (11-1, 5-0 Pac-12) defeated Oregon (0-11-2, 0-5) in an early afternoon game Sunday at Wallis Annenberg Stadium. The game also marked the Bruins’ celebration of their senior night with baby pictures and signed posters, marking an occasion that senior forward Reilyn Turner has been looking forward to.
“My family’s here, a bunch of my people are here on senior night,” Turner said. “It just feels good to play with my best friends and have a good time.”
With a crowd packed full of family and friends, the Bruins saw a total of 13 shots on goal throughout the game. Of those 13, Turner converted three in the 16th, 46th and 62nd minutes for her first hat trick of the season.
This accomplishment has been long in the making, said coach Margueritte Aozasa.
“She’s created so many goals for us this year,” Aozasa said. “Sometimes she doesn’t get credit for it because it’s one or two passes later, so it was really great for her to just get on a stat sheet, get those goals, and hopefully that helps her continue to build her confidence.”
Turner was not the sole contributor to the Bruins’ success Sunday afternoon. Junior midfielder Emma Egizii scored in the 24th minute after offensive pressure in the attacking third caused the Oregon goalie to not intercept a rebounded kick. The Ducks only had one shot for the entirety of the game’s 90 minutes.
Sophomore midfielder/forward Sofia Cook said the amount of shots on goal is all a part of the process for the squad.
“We always have a lot of shots, but not a lot on target,” Cook said. “I think our forwards and midfielders – like myself – we’re just excited, and we want to score so we just go for it. We have got to hit five before you get the one in the net.”
The Bruins are on an eight-game winning streak after hosting two Oregon teams this past week. With only one loss in the books, the Bruins are utilizing each game as an opportunity to progress toward another national championship.
The team’s motivation is not just from the momentum of a winning streak, but due to the hard work the Bruins have completed since the start of the season, Aozasa said.
“It’s wild to think how much progress we’ve made from the first game to be here,” Aozasa said. “I’m really pleased with the defensive organization. The progress we’ve made there and our ability to possess the ball and create dangerous plays … really showed this weekend.”
Turner said with such a deep roster, games that follow this similar path elicit many opportunities for younger players to practice the culture and way of play.
“I feel like our depth is something that makes our team so special,” Turner said. “In games like these where we have the opportunity to play so many players, it gives everybody a chance to play together, and it gives everybody experience, which is really important and necessary going into playoffs.”
Cook said the Bruins’ senior day harbors bittersweet emotions.
“I’m so sad about our seniors. … They were so welcoming when I came in as a freshman,” Cook said. “But my class, the class above me, we’re super awesome. And the freshmen are working really hard, so everyone has a drive, and everyone’s willing to grow and learn (for what’s to) come of our team.”
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