It’s easy to stop one monster.
But three?
Now things are getting serious.
Last week, the UCLA defense performed admirably, shutting down
talented Kansas forward Caroline Smith, holding the Big XII Player
of the Year to only one shot on goal in the Bruins’ 1-0
victory.
This week, however, as the Bruins prepare to face Penn State on
Friday in the NCAA quarterfinals, the prospect of one Smith-like
player facing the Bruins is no longer.
The Nittany Lions have three.
Forwards Tiffany Weimer and Heidi Drummond, along with
midfielder Joanna Lohman, have combined for 55 of Penn
State’s 69 goals this season.
“This is definitely the best offensive team we’ve
seen in the playoffs,” UCLA coach Jill Ellis said.
“They attack out of the midfield, they attack out of the
flanks, and they have two players up top who can finish.”
For the first time this tournament, the No. 4 seed Bruins
(19-1-3) face a team that is more than likely their equal. In fact,
Penn State beat UCLA last year, 1-0 in double overtime, at the UCLA
Women’s Cup.
“It’s going to be exciting,” Penn State coach
Paula Wilkins said. “These are two of the top teams in the
country. It’s unfortunate that we have to play each other so
early.”
No. 5 Penn St. (19-3-2) has made easy work of its first three
playoff opponents, downing Navy, 5-1, Rutgers, 3-1, and Texas
A&M, 3-0. It has been an offensive explosion that begins with
the big three.
Lohman, a Player of the Year candidate, controls the Penn State
offense from the midfield. She has registered 19 goals and six
assists on the season.
“She’s one of the best midfielders in the college
game,” Ellis said.
From her midfield spot, Lohman sets up Weimer and Drummond, who
have scored 21 and 15 goals, respectively.
“It makes us dangerous,” Wilkins said. “Teams
can’t focus on just one of them.”
But though the Nittany Lions have had their way with the playoff
teams they’ve faced so far, this is a Bruin defense that
appears to be peaking. In fact, UCLA hasn’t allowed a goal in
its first three playoff matches.
“We will possibly be the best defense that they’ve
faced all year, so it’s going to be a great challenge on both
sides of the ball,” Ellis said.
The UCLA defense is anchored by Pac-10 Co-Player of the Year
Nandi Pryce, who is flanked by Kathryn Lee, Amy Fazio and Kendal
Billingsley.
“If we play like we did against Kansas, we’ll be
okay,” Pryce said. “If our team shows up, nobody can
beat us.”
Neither coach was so quick to make that kind of statement. They
did, however, agree that looking at the other team is a lot like
looking at themselves.
In the course of the season, both have successfully employed
4-4-2 and 4-3-3 sets; both squads finished first in their
respective conferences; both are playing their best soccer of the
season right now.
“Two very good teams will be slugging it out,” Ellis
said. “It’s two very competitive, very athletic teams.
It’s really going to come down to the team that puts its
opportunities away.
“It’s the four and five seeds. It will come down to
the team that wants it, and the team that shows up for 90 minutes
on Friday night.”