WOMEN’S SOCCER Today, 7 p.m. v. Florida Drake
Stadium
Over the past few years, the women’s soccer team has
suffered disappointment when tourney time comes at the end of the
season.
The Bruins have advanced to the national championship two of the
past three seasons only to fall just short of the title.
However, with a Sweet-16 matchup tonight at home against the
Florida Gators, the team will move one step closer to redemption
and UCLA’s 100th NCAA National Championship.
After scoring nine goals in their first two tournament wins, the
Bruins (19-3) will look to keep the offensive firepower going
against the Gators’ strong defense.
“Scoring goals is a good sign,” coach Jill Ellis
said. “It gets you confident and feeling good.
“When you get to the playoffs, the players’
excitement kicks up a notch.”
UCLA cannot count on that kind of productivity against Florida
(15-5-4), which has only given up 18 goals on the year.
“Nine goals in two games ““ we didn’t plan on
that,” Ellis said. “Florida’s a very good team.
They play well together. At this point, with the last 16 teams,
you’re going to face a strong opponent.”
Florida has played eight overtime games, without a loss in any
““ something that may play to their advantage in a potentially
close matchup. However, Ellis downplayed the importance of
statistics.
“You have two teams that come out and I guarantee you they
want to win in regulation,” she said. “You kind of
throw stats out the window when it comes to playoffs.”
The Bruins do have history with the Gators, who have beaten UCLA
two out of three times, including in a 2001 1-0 overtime loss in
the quarterfinals of the NCAA Tournament. Ellis was also the coach
of that team, but no current Bruins were on that squad.
“It’s going to be a moot point for our
players,” Ellis said. “I like (playing Florida) because
it’s an opponent we haven’t seen.”
The Bruins have peaked at the right time, playing their best
stretch of complete games in tournament play.
“I think we’re playing our most consistent
soccer,” Ellis said. “We’ve played some good
soccer, but we haven’t been able to maintain it for 90
minutes. The past two games have been the most complete.”
Looking at a Florida squad that led the SEC conference with a
7-1-3 record, Ellis said the pivotal matchup will be each
team’s attackers against the other team’s defense.
With home-field advantage and a 25-game home winning streak at
Drake Stadium, the Bruins will not be looking to make many changes
on the field for tonight.
“It’s not about changing things drastically at this
point,” Ellis said.
Although changes may not be necessary, improving attacking set
pieces, finishing possessions, and working on creating more
defensive pressure are among the points that the Bruins focused on
this week in practice.
“Both teams have a lot of attacking personalities,”
Ellis said, “and both teams have a lot of flair. “
Ellis is not looking for 90 minutes of perfection from her team.
She just wants her Bruins to consistently play to their
potential.
“You’re never going to be perfect,” Ellis
said. “But if teams are going to score, make them earn goals.
We would just like to go in (tonight) and focus on the things
we’ve done well.”
Although the team has been playing some of its best soccer as of
late, nothing is certain in the NCAA Tournament.
“You earn the right to advance,” Ellis said.
“You have to grind it out for 90 minutes and take the game
minute by minute.”
Most likely this is what the Gators will be looking to do
against the favored Bruins, but playing in the opponent’s
house may prove too much.
“We’re comfortable playing at home,” Ellis
said. “But at the end of the day, it’s about 22 players
on the field.”