It’s what the other top women’s soccer programs have
been waiting for. An opening.
Now that top-ranked and 17-time national champion North Carolina
has been booted out of the NCAA Tournament, the rest of the field
is salivating at the opportunity to displace them.
That includes 14th-seeded UCLA, who will travel to Columbus,
Ohio to face sixth-seeded Ohio State in an NCAA quarterfinal match
Saturday afternoon.
“Carolina being out opens the door for some other
team,” UCLA coach Jill Ellis said. “We want to be the
team that runs through the door.”
The Bruins (16-6), who have never won a national championship in
women’s soccer, have had their two best opportunities foiled
by North Carolina. The Tar Heels, perhaps the greatest dynasty in
the history of college sports, routed UCLA 3-0 in the NCAA
semifinals last year, and beat the Bruins 2-1 in the championship
game in 2000.
The security of knowing North Carolina is not still lurking on
the other side of the draw has UCLA cautiously optimistic about its
chances of finally capturing its elusive first championship.
“We don’t want to look on the other side of the
bracket, but it’s a little added incentive that
Carolina’s not there,” senior defender Kendal
Billingsley said.
“Selfishly, I wanted to beat them,” senior
midfielder Lindsay Greco said. “But it’s awesome that
the draw has opened up.”
A wide open draw will not mean anything to UCLA unless it can
defeat Ohio State (19-3-3) on Saturday. The Buckeyes, like the
Bruins, fancy themselves a national championship contender, and
will be looking to earn a berth in the College Cup with a
victory.
“They’re a strong team,” Ellis said.
“We’re going in as the underdog, but that’s a
role this team relishes. Even though we’ve gotten this far,
we feel like we still have a lot to prove.”
Ohio State, which advanced to the NCAA quarterfinals with a 1-0
victory over No. 11 Tennessee, seems to represent UCLA’s
toughest challenge of the postseason thus far. Featuring a balanced
offense, the Buckeyes have three players who have scored
double-digit goals ““ Lisa Grubb (12), Laura Dickenmann (13),
and Danielle Dietrich (10).
Undefeated at Jesse Owens Memorial Stadium so far this season,
they have compiled a 15-0-1 record at home, outscoring their
opponents 48-7.
That home field advantage, however daunting, does not have the
Bruins spooked.
“From what I’ve heard it’s a pretty hostile
environment, but we just have to come in with the right
mind-set,” Ellis said. “These players are experienced
enough to know that it shouldn’t matter where we are
playing.”
The Bruins have fared well so far in the postseason, advancing
to the quarterfinals without allowing a goal. For a program that
graduated four starters and suffered through several debilitating
injuries, being one victory from the Final Four is a nice position
to be in.
“We’re peaking at the right time,” Billingsley
said. A lot of people have said that we aren’t as strong as
last year, but we know the type of team that we have. We’re
confident in ourselves and each other, and we’re excited
about what’s ahead.”