UCLA women’s soccer already has the No. 1 defense in the country with its 0.187 goals against average. But the team has still managed to convince critics that it possesses the ability to keep the back of its net untouched. Read more...

Photo: According to senior defender Abby Dahlkemper (No. 8), it’s UCLA’s team defense, which starts from the forwards and ends at the goalkeeper, that has allowed the team to keep 17 clean sheets and stay atop national rankings in its goals allowed average. (Keila Mayberry/Daily Bruin)

The UCLA women’s soccer team has three goals it wants to accomplish going into every game. “Every game we have a goal to score off a set piece, in the run of play and off a counterattack,” said junior forward Taylor Smith. Read more...

Photo: Junior forward Taylor Smith completed a coast-to-coast run to successfully score off a counterattack and complete the Bruins’ trifecta of a goal off a set piece, one in the run of play and another off a counterattack. (Aubrey Yeo/Daily Bruin senior staff)

There aren’t any NCAA Championship trophies for UCLA women’s basketball in the Hall of Fame at the J.D. Morgan Athletic Center. There is, however, a large bulletin board in coach Cori Close’s office overflowing with pictures of past and present players, pictures that illustrate a sense of community and spirit among the women that make up her team. Read more...

Photo: Nirra Fields is the leading returning scorer from last year’s team. The junior guard will combine her experience with the nation’s No. 1 recruit class this year. (Erin Ng/Daily Bruin senior staff)

The games of soccer and basketball seem to be antitheses of each other at times, but for one game on Aug. 31, UCLA women’s soccer coach Amanda Cromwell was able to bridge the gap between basketball and soccer strategies to get UCLA a win. Read more...

Photo: Senior defender Caprice Dydasco said that it’s “definitely an advantage” that the No. 1 Bruins drew San Diego, a team they beat 2-0 earlier in the season, for the first round of the NCAA tournament. (Austin Yu/Daily Bruin senior staff)