Though they’re often looked at as two separate entities, the offense and defense of the UCLA women’s soccer team have come together in the past few weeks to help the Bruins return to the top of collegiate soccer.
The front-line attack and the back-line containment have become threats to be reckoned with, as the No. 1 Bruins (9-1-2, 2-0 Pac-10) have started to have the sort of chemistry that makes them unstoppable and impenetrable.
Coaches and players knew coming into the season that the talent was present, but that it was just a matter of the pieces falling into place. And for the Bruins, the timing couldn’t have been better, as the team has found itself atop the national rankings after toppling two national powerhouses in recent weeks in Portland and Santa Clara.
“We knew we were definitely capable, it was just trying to actually put it out there and step it up,” sophomore Dea Cook said.
Cook and fellow defenders Lauren Wilmoth, Catherine Calvert and Lauren Barnes have come together to limit opponents to just three goals in the Bruins’ last six games, which included two consecutive shutouts in conference play.
UCLA’s defense took a huge blow when captain center back Erin Hardy suffered an injury that has kept her out of the lineup for much of the season.
But to the coaching staff’s delight, Cook and Calvert have been successful in limiting the opposition’s attack in the middle.
“The loss of Erin Hardy was difficult for our team,” assistant coach B.J. Snow said. “Cat and Dea have really stepped up and filled that void. It’s been a team-defending concept that we’ve been developing for the last few weeks.”
The back-line players have been focusing on having their play during games mirror that of their practices, by being more vocal and keeping a close eye on their assigned opponents while also trying to make the job in goal an easier one for senior goalkeeper Valerie Henderson.
“We’ve been working on that in practice a lot, staying organized and learning how to talk to each other and keep track of our opponents,” Cook said. “We’ve just been more aware of that during the game and playing more as a unit.”
With the defensive squad doing its job of keeping the ball out of the net and limiting the number of goals scored, the task of the offense becomes a bit easier, as UCLA’s attacking front isn’t thrust into a situation in which players are desperate to score.
In fact, the Bruins have trailed just twice all season: once in their season-opening 4-2 loss against Texas, and the other time against Santa Clara, when they trailed 1-0 before reeling off four consecutive goals to win 4-1.
“It makes it easier for our offense because our offense stems from our defense,” Snow said. “So when our defense is playing well, it just builds momentum for our offense.”
However, the players on defense feel that the offense is just as helpful when it converts on goal-scoring opportunities and dominates possessions while breaking down the opposition. Thus, it has been a team effort that has helped the Bruins bounce back to the top after some early season setbacks, including injuries and an opening loss to Texas.
“Our offense is definitely helping us out too,” Cook said. “It takes a lot of pressure off of us when they’re scoring for us, too.”
NORTHWARD BOUND: For the first time since the opening game of the season, UCLA will venture out of Southern California, to take on Pac-10 foes No. 2 Stanford on Friday and No. 19 California on Sunday.
The Bruins, after shutting out Oregon State and Oregon to achieve a 2-0 record in the Pac-10, are looking to capture a record-setting fifth consecutive conference championship.