After three straight appearances in the Final Four, the UCLA
women’s soccer team hopes this year will be the year it
brings home the big prize.
With the Bruins now firmly established among the elite programs
of collegiate soccer and boasting a roster filled with talent and
experience at every position, this season will not be considered a
true success unless it ends in the program’s first NCAA
title.
Ranked No. 1 in the preseason for the first time in school
history, UCLA had six wins in its first seven games, with victories
over several top-25 teams.
“We have a lot of talent, and I would like to see us get
back to the Final Four and hopefully get (national championship
No.) 100,” said senior captain Mary Castelanelli.
“We’re all working every single practice and game to
get to that championship and win it,” she said.
The Bruins have reached the finals the past two seasons, falling
last year to Portland, 4-0, and the year before to Notre Dame in a
penalty-kick shootout.
This year’s team appears capable of going one step further
to win that elusive championship, buoyed by one of the best
recruiting classes in the country, including the consensus No. 1
freshman in forward Lauren Cheney, and a deep and experienced core
of tournament-tested players.
The Bruins’ depth has already been tested as UCLA lost
star sophomore forward Kara Lang for the season with a torn
ACL.
Lang suffered the injury in the offseason while playing for the
Canadian national team and will redshirt the season.
Senior midfielder Caitlin Ursini was also forced to medically
retire because of knee injuries.
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“The loss of those two will be hard, but I think we have a
lot of players that can step in,” coach Jill Ellis said.
“I think we’ve got a lot of experience, and I also
think we have an outstanding freshman class. It has the makings of
a very good team with a good chance to do very well and be
successful,” Ellis said.
Lang, the team’s second-leading scorer last season, was to
start for the Bruins at forward, but her injury has forced a slight
reshuffling of the lineup.
Junior Danesha Adams has been moved from midfield to forward.
Senior Bristyn Davis also returns to the forward position after
spending last year as a defender.
These two will pair with freshmen Cheney and Kristina Larsen to
provide most of UCLA’s offensive punch.
Redshirt senior Stacy Lindstrom combines with sophomores
Christina DiMartino, Catherine Calvert and McCall Zerboni to form a
midfield equally capable of creating scoring chances up front and
defending.
Castelanelli is the veteran presence along the Bruins’
back line.
She is partnered with sophomore Erin Hardy and freshmen Lauren
Wilmoth and Lauren Switzer.
“We’re very young in the back, but they’re
going to learn on the job” Ellis said.
“I think we’re just looking for them to fit in and
adjust as quickly as they can and be able to help us and be
productive,” Ellis said.
Goalkeeper Valerie Henderson will help the Bruins ease the
growing pains of developing their talented but green defenders.
The junior already ranks among the best in UCLA history in wins,
shutouts and goals-against average.
“(Henderson) plays big and has got a great presence that
really helps us,” Ellis said.
“She can make up for some of our mistakes. She’s one
of the best keepers in the country,” she said.
Henderson, Adams, Cheney, Hardy and DiMartino recently starred
for the U.S. team that competed in the Under-20 Women’s World
Championship in Russia.
The team finished a disappointing fourth after losing its final
two games in heartbreaking fashion in penalty-kick
shootouts.
The experience ““ which forced the players to miss
UCLA’s first four matches ““ has only provided more
motivation for the players to bring a championship home to
Westwood.
“It’s time for it to happen,” Adams said.
“We’ve been (to the Final Four) so many times;
it’s time to put the nail in the coffin,” she said.