When UCLA opens up Pac-10 play later this week, there is a
chance that one of its most potent goal scorers from the 2002
season could be on the bench.
Lindsay Greco, the Pac-10’s seventh leading scorer this
past season, will not start at forward against UNLV tonight in Las
Vegas, and may not be in her customary spot alongside Iris Mora on
Thursday night against Washington State either.
UCLA women’s soccer coach Jill Ellis will insert freshman
Bristyn Davis into the lineup tonight against the Runnin’
Rebels and hopes to name a permanent starter at the position later
next week.
“Iris has been our most consistent offensive player, but
we’re still tinkering with the other forward position,”
Ellis said. “The other forwards have all had their moments,
but one of them needs to emerge as a consistent scoring
threat.”
The three candidates to start next to Mora ““ Davis, Greco
and Sarah-Gayle Swanson ““ have each contributed to the
team’s five victories so far this season. Greco will have her
chance to start Tuesday against San Diego, and could see action in
the midfield tonight as well.
Although Davis, Student Sports Magazine’s National Player
of the Year, netted 32 goals as a high school senior this past
season, she does not expect to unseat Greco as the Bruins’
starting forward.
“I’m trying to win the spot, but it’s not like
I have the experience of someone like Greco,” said Davis, who
has scored three goals on the season. “She’s been
playing a lot longer than I have, and she knows different
situations in the collegiate game that I don’t know. Playing
in games you learn so much.”
Davis will have the opportunity to learn tonight against UNLV
(6-4-1), a squad that the No. 3 Bruins (5-1-2) know very little
about. The Mountain West Conference runner-ups a year ago, the
Rebels return 15 players including senior midfielder Cristyn Enea,
this past season’s leading scorer.
The Bruins, meanwhile, have not played a game since defeating
Duke, 2-1, on Sept. 21, and are anxious to shake the rust off
tonight.
After a week’s worth of wind sprints and running, the team
is looking forward to playing once more.
“We’re all ready to go,” Greco said. “It
was tough conditioning all week, but I definitely think it was
needed. All of us are in good shape now, and we’re ready to
bring that to the field.”
The Bruins have lost just one game on the year ““ a 5-2
setback against top-ranked North Carolina ““ and it is
unlikely that UNLV will pose much of a challenge.
The Rebels have been outscored 12-2 in their four losses, and
probably don’t have the firepower to contend with UCLA.
With the Pac-10 season just days away, Ellis is optimistic about
her team’s chances, regardless of who starts at forward.
“It’s a great problem to have,” she said.