Since the beginning of the season, the women’s soccer team
has been using Lance Armstrong as a model for success, integrating
the record-breaking cyclist and his Tour de France success into
practice plans and season goals.
From shirts with the “˜LA’ in UCLA bolded to stand
for Lance Armstrong to a yellow jersey that is awarded to the best
practice player each day, the ideal of Armstrong has been
ever-present this season.
“There’s been so many times where we’ve
reconnected with what we’re doing with him,” coach Jill
Ellis said.
And last Friday, the team received something a bit more
concrete, this time from Armstrong himself. Prior to the
team’s match against Penn State, Armstrong left a message on
assistant coach Mark Carr’s answering machine, wishing the
team good luck against the Nittany Lions.
“Pretty cool, huh?” a giddy Ellis asked.
Now as the team prepares to face powerhouse North Carolina on
Friday, thoughts of Armstrong endure.
Today, Ellis plans to show her team tape of the 15th stage of
the Tour de France, where Armstrong fell off his bike, recovered,
and went on to win the stage.
She likens her team’s current position to
Armstrong’s position heading into the final time trial of the
2003 Tour, when his solid performance secured the victory.
“It was all about execution,” Ellis said. “He
knew what he had to do, and he did it.
“And that’s what it comes down to in this semifinal
game. We know we’re going to have to score goals and play
well defensively to win this game. It’s about
executing.”
CRISCIONE KEY: It seems so long ago that the
UCLA goalkeeper situation was in upheaval, with freshman Arianna
Criscione thrust into the starting spot following starter Sarah
Lombardo’s season-ending injury. Criscione has been solid so
far, posting a record of 13-0-0 in goal for the Bruins.
Though she has worked with Carr in practice, Criscione does
remain relatively untested in games, having made only 29 saves.
At this point, it would be foolish for the Bruins to think that
an offensive juggernaut like Carolina won’t test the freshman
keeper.
“Ari is going to have to play the game of her life, and we
know that,” Ellis said. “You’d be crazy to say
that North Carolina is not going to get opportunities. We’re
not perfect, and teams will get opportunities against
us.”
SELLOUT: According to the North Carolina Web
site, Friday’s game in Cary, N.C. is expected to be a
sellout, with 10,000 fans in attendance.