This post was updated Oct 15. at 10:55 p.m.
The Bruins claimed another victory to preserve their undefeated streak in conference play.
No. 5 UCLA women’s soccer (12-1, 6-0 Pac-12) faced off against Utah (5-5-5, 1-3-2) in a 4-0 shutout contest Friday evening. The result of the match continued the Bruins’ six-game winning streak against the Utes over the past two years. Coach Margueritte Aozasa has a similar winning record with the Bruins, going undefeated at home since taking the position of head coach ahead of the 2022 season.
Aozasa said staying undefeated is the goal.
“One of the things we say is we want opponents to feel like playing here is one of the hardest places to play in the country,” Aozasa said. “And so anytime we can do that, like tonight, in some ways this was a bit of a statement win, so hopefully I keep the streak.”
Both the Bruins and the Utes experienced a foul-heavy game, with Utah sustaining a yellow card for unsportsmanlike conduct in the 58th minute. UCLA picked up 10 fouls, while its opponent notched 8.
The Bruins know how to stay focused during games like these, according to junior forward Lexi Wright.
“We have had a lot more yellow games and have been getting a lot more out of hand sometimes,” Wright said. “Coaches tell us, ‘Stay calm. Just remain to our game. Don’t let the refs, the fans, the players or anyone affect you.'”
Despite a high foul tally, the Bruins emerged with a hot foot, etching one shot on goal within the first two minutes of the match. A Utah foul followed, with graduate student forward Ally Cook shooting a free kick for the Bruins but missing the back of the net in both the third and sixth minutes of the match.
Sophomore midfielder Ally Lemos scored the first goal of the game for the Bruins in the 12th minute. Following an assist by junior defender Quincy McMahon, senior forward Reilyn Turner added to the Bruins’ lead just seven minutes later. Turner’s 40th goal tied the Bruin for sixth place in the program’s history for career high points.
Assists from fellow Bruins continued the offensive performance, creating two goals in the second half. McMahon notched her second assist of the night to Wright, giving the Bruins a 3-0 lead.
Wright said communication and culture connect the team offensively.
“You know their strengths and their weaknesses,” Wright said. “I think just having that motive of friendship and love around it – really, you want to work hard for your teammate, track back and score for your teammate.”
And nearly 30 minutes after Wright’s goal, the Bruins saw redshirt senior forward/midfielder Janae DeFazio and sophomore forward America Frias in the last two minutes of the match notch an assist.
This rallied one final last-minute goal scored by senior midfielder/forward Megan Edelman, which Aozasa said encapsulates the team’s uniqueness.
“A lot of players that maybe haven’t played as many minutes played the majority of minutes in the second half, and I thought, soccerwise, our second half was the better half,” Aozasa said. “Janae and Meg (Megan Edelman) and Ame (America Frias) combining for that last goal – that was one of our best goals for the whole season.”
Lemos said Friday’s performance showed how the team has progressed since the first game of the season.
“The team we had when we first played Georgia is a drastically different team,” Lemos said. “Now, we’ve developed and gotten better in so many ways.”
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