After playing four exhausting games in nine days, the UCLA
women’s soccer team will look back on the past week and a
half with great pride. Two of the matches went to sudden-death
overtime, while another was decided in the last three seconds of
regulation. However, the Bruins emerged victorious in all four
games. “I’m proud of this team because of the character
they’ve shown,” coach Jill Ellis said. “Last year
overtimes weren’t favorable to us, but this year I think we
believe a little bit more.” UCLA went 2-3 in overtime games
last year. So far this season, the team is 3-0-1 when forced to
play extra minutes. “You leave the players on that are so
fatigued, but they’ve battled the whole game,” Ellis
said. “So it really is a mental thing.” Though it
seemed like fatigue would undoubtedly be a factor in the latter
stages of Saturday night’s game against Washington,
especially after playing extra time in a 2-1 win over Washington
State just two nights before, the Bruins appeared to reach deep
inside themselves to pull out a victory. “I was so
tired,” said sophomore forward Iris Mora, who finished with
three assists. “But it’s just 10 more minutes, 20 more
minutes, and then you get to go home and rest. You have to leave
everything here on the field. It’s a game with your
mind.” After going hard for nine straight days, the team will
finally get a chance to rest. “I think we’ll probably
need a couple of days here to recuperate,” Ellis said.
ASSIST, MORA: What a difference a year makes.
Last season, Mora scored seven goals, but didn’t register one
assist. In Saturday’s game alone, she assisted on every one
of her team’s three goals. The first came on a corner kick to
the head of senior forward Sarah-Gayle Swanson in the 30th minute,
the second on a free kick to the head of senior midfielder Whitney
Jones in the 65th minute, and the third on a pass to freshman
forward Bristyn Davis that set up the game winner in the 109th
minute. “It’s awesome,” Mora said. “I just
hit the target. I decide who I’m going to pass it to, and
I’m lucky that I can pass those balls.” “Iris has
been our most consistent attacking personality,” Ellis said.
“She’s crafty. She’s always making things happen
or involved in things.” Mora already has eight assists in 12
games this season.
SHOOTING BIG: After outshooting Washington 20-9
on Saturday, the Bruins hold a 254-67 shot advantage over its
opponents on the season. They have outscored their opponents
26-12.