W. soccer wants revenge in Malibu
Two losses to Pepperdine last year help fuel UCLA’s
determination
By Hye Kwon
The UCLA women’s soccer team is going to Malibu this afternoon
with more than just winning on their minds. The Bruins want to take
revenge on Pepperdine for the losses they suffered last year.
Last season, the Waves swept the season series between the two
schools, 2-0. Pepperdine won the first match 4-2 after scoring 2
goals in overtime. In the second game of the season, the Waves beat
the Bruins impressively, 4-0.
Coming into today’s match fresh off a victory over Gonzaga,
Pepperdine (3-4-2) is led by sophomore mid-fielder Jennifer Evans
and senior mid-fielder Christi DeVert.
Evans and DeVert were responsible for five of the eight goals
scored against the Bruins last season and they continue to lead the
Waves in scoring this season.
Through the first nine matches of the season, Evans is the team
leader in points (13) with six goals and one assist, while DeVert
is responsible for five assists and one goal.
The Waves will be facing an entirely different UCLA team from
last year, however, considering that the Bruins (6-2-2) have 21
true freshmen on the roster.
"(UCLA) had a tremendous recruiting class," Pepperdine head
coach George Kuntz said. "We have a lot of respect for them."
UCLA head coach Joy Fawcett feels confident about the match.
"I think if we play our game, then we should be okay," she
said.
* * *
The Bruins are ranked ninth in the Western region, largely
because of two highly regarded freshmen.
Forward Traci Arkenberg now has four game winning goals to her
credit, which puts her among the regional leaders in that category.
However, Arkenberg was neutralized for the most part in last
Monday’s game against UC Irvine.
Arkenberg will try to return to the form she showed in last
weekend’s match against Arizona in which she scored two goals in 35
minutes.
Goalkeeper Gretchen Overgaard has shut out Bruin opponents for
three straight matches- a new school record. She also broke her own
record of two straight scoreless matches set earlier this
season.
Overgaard is ranked number one in the region and sixth in the
nation in goals scored against (three goals in 780 minutes). She
will try to lengthen her 309 scoreless minutes of play in Malibu
today.