Junior Danesha Adams and freshman Lauren Cheney usually get all
the attention for UCLA’s offensive fireworks, but to ardent
observers of the women’s soccer team, it is perhaps sophomore
Christina DiMartino who has been most impressive.
The midfielder has made a living utilizing her superior
dribbling skills and vision to create havoc for defenses, often
taking on, and beating, two or three defenders, generating scoring
chances for herself and her teammates.
“I mostly look to combine with my forwards and my outside
backs,” DiMartino said of her style of play. “I love
doing that and taking people on and combining with my
team.”
Nobody has benefited more from DiMartino’s passion for
helping her teammates than Adams and Cheney.
While Cheney leads the team with 19 goals and Adams is second
with 12 tallies, much of the credit must go to DiMartino. The
sophomore from Massapequa, N.Y., leads the Bruins with seven
assists ““ three each setting up Cheney and Adams. DiMartino
also has five scores of her own to rank third on the team.
DiMartino also set up the game-winning goal in last
Friday’s 2-1 win over Portland by drawing a penalty kick
against Pilot keeper Cori Alexander ““ a win that propelled
UCLA into the College Cup.
Off a through-ball from Cheney, DiMartino was free to the goal
but was judged to be taken down by Alexander setting up the winning
penalty.
“At first I didn’t think it would be a PK, and then
I heard everyone start cheering so then I looked and was really
excited,” DiMartino said. “I thought (the referee)
wouldn’t call it.”
HOME-FIELD ADVANTAGE: Friday’s win over
Portland closed out a perfect home season for UCLA. The Bruins
finished with an unblemished 16-0 record this year at Drake
Stadium.
The team has won 15 consecutive NCAA Tournament matches at home
and is unbeaten in their last 27 overall in Westwood.
Friday also closed out the home careers for five Bruin seniors
including four-year starters Bristyn Davis and Stacy Lindstrom.
“Before the game I was so nervous, because I wanted to
leave Drake with a win,” Davis said. “(Portland was) a
good team and I wasn’t sure how it was going to happen.
I’m so happy I got to end my days at UCLA with that kind of
win.”
BRUINS EXCEL IN THE CLASSROOM: Injured senior
defender Mary Castelanelli and sophomore Catherine Calvert earned
second-team Pac-10 All-Academic honors.
Castelanelli is a civil engineering student with a 3.53 GPA, and
Calvert is undeclared with a 3.76 GPA. Castelanelli was previously
named to the ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District-VIII team.
DiMartino and goalkeeper Valerie Henderson earned honorable
mention Pac-10 All-Academic honors as well.