The Tour de France has 20 stages.
The soccer season has 20 games.
A Tour victory is a team effort.
A soccer victory is a team effort.
Lance Armstrong finishes races.
The UCLA women’s soccer team hasn’t been so
fortunate.
Last season, the Bruins were eliminated by Texas A&M in the
third round of the NCAA tournament despite outshooting the Aggies
21-0. UCLA couldn’t finish its scoring opportunities and went
on to lose 3-1 in a shootout.
This season, the Bruins would like to finish: their scoring,
their season, their NCAA championship.
Because of his unrivaled ability to finish, the Bruins have
adopted Lance Armstrong and his amazing exploits on cycling’s
grandest stage as a season theme and inspiration.
UCLA head coach Jillian Ellis has masterminded the Tour de
France theme, right from the day when every team member received
her own yellow jersey. The long sleeve jersey says UCLA on the
front, with the “LA” in blue for “Lance
Armstrong.” The back reads, “Take nothing for
granted.”
Said Ellis, “I had each one of them come up to the front
of the room, and I had them say, “˜I will lead my team,’
and they could pick “˜in the mountains,’ “˜in the
time trials,’ or “˜in the sprints.’
“And then what we do in practice, the player who has had
the greatest impact on training gets to wear the yellow jersey, so
they will train in the yellow jersey (the next practice).Â
That’s the way to recognize that she’s in front and
that she’s the leader for the day.”
The goal is that this Bruin team will have many leaders, with
different people stepping up in different situations. And if the
team works together as Lance Armstrong’s U.S. Postal Service
team has done so brilliantly for the last five years, these Bruins
could be a formidable force through every stage.
The team, which begins the season ranked No. 5 and returns nine
of 11 starters from last year’s squad that finished 18-4, has
filled in any holes with the nation’s No. 2 recruiting
class. These newcomers will join a veteran line-up that boasts
a load of international experience and success.
The success seems to start with Ellis. Now in her fifth
season at the helm, she has elevated the program to national
prominence. Ellis has compiled a 72-16-2 record as head coach
and was named National Coach of the Year in 2000, and this may be
her best team yet.
The group of forwards will be lead by redshirt junior Lindsay
Greco, UCLA’s leading scorer from a year ago. Last season,
Greco tallied 21 points on seven goals and seven assists.
Joining Greco up top will be sophomore Iris Mora. Mora had
an exciting summer playing for the Mexican National Team, which
nearly qualified for the 2003 Women’s World Cup. Had her team
qualified, she would have been forced to redshirt and miss the UCLA
season. Mora scored seven goals in just 14 matches last
season.
“She’s a great spark plug for us,” Ellis said.
“She will bring great energy, great attacking flair.
I’m excited to get her in and blend her in right
away.”
Freshman Bristyn Davis, Student Sports Magazine’s National
Player of the Year, will fight for time up front, along with junior
Kim Devine (7 goals, 2 assists last year).
Midfield will be a very competitive spot for the Bruins, as many
players have a legitimate shot at earning playing time.
Senior Whitney Jones, a three-year starter, will anchor the
position. A first-team All-Pac-10 selection last year, Jones also
plays for the UCLA women’s basketball team.
Jones will likely be joined in the midfield by sophomore Stacy
Lindstrom and senior Sarah-Gayle Swanson. Swanson had five
game-winning goals for the Bruins last season. Also in the
midfield, freshman Stephanie Kron, the No. 14 recruit on Soccer
America’s list of the top-25 recruits, has the ability to
start.
The Bruin defense, possibly the team’s strongest asset
last season (0.57 goals allowed per game), will be strong this year
as well.
First-team All-American Nandi Pryce returns for her senior
season, fresh off an international championship, helping the
Under-21 U.S. National Team to its fifth consecutive Nordic Cup
title.
Senior Kathryn Lee, juniors Kendal Billingsley and Amy Fazio,
and freshman Mary Castelanelli will all look to receive significant
playing time in the back for the Bruins as well.
At goalkeeper, the Bruins have three options: junior Sarah
Lombardo, freshman Arianna Criscione, and senior Jaclyn
Harwood. Lombardo should see the bulk of the playing time, as
she played in all 22 matches last season, starting 20 of them.
Also notable for the Bruins are the players who won’t be
seeing any action early in the season, those players who are out
with injuries.
Most prominent is sophomore Jill Oakes. A prized recruit out of
high school, Oakes was a freshman All-American and first-team
All-Pac-10 performer in the midfield last year. She tore her
PCL in the second round of the NCAA Tournament and is currently
rehabbing the injury. Ellis hopes to see her back in action by
the middle of the season.
Forwards Krystal James and Katie Rivera both suffered torn ACLs
last season. James’ injury will force her to redshirt, while
Ellis would like to see Rivera back by midseason.
“With Jill and Katie we are shooting for the middle of the
season,” Ellis said. “Right before the Pac-10s we are
going to assess and evaluate.”
Though the injuries don’t help, the Bruins should be able
to overcome them with their depth.
They will also look to overcome the bitterness left from the
Texas A&M match last year.
“We don’t want that to happen again,” Greco
said. “In a way it’s behind us. We’re moving
forward to this year, but in a way it’s going to always be in
the back of our heads. We don’t want that to happen, so
we just work harder.”
So far, team-leader Pryce has been pleased with what she’s
seen.
“I know in the years past I think I’ve stood in
front of a lot of people and said that we had what it takes (to win
a championship) as players, but this preseason has been the most
unbelievable thing ever,” she said. “Graduating
one and bringing in so many that can potentially start for us is
huge.”
The Bruins will look to start huge, as they open the season
August 29 at preseason No. 1 Santa Clara, the 2001 College Cup
champions and 2002 College Cup runners-up.
But even if they lose, this team will undoubtedly put it in the
perspective of a long race.
Then it only matters who is wearing the yellow jersey at the
finish.
The women’s soccer team plays its first home game
against UC Santa Barbara on Wednesday, Sept. 3 as part of the UCLA
Tournament at Drake Stadium.