Goalkeeper Valerie Henderson’s face was dripping with blood following the No. 1 UCLA women’s soccer team’s NCAA quarterfinal game against Portland.
It wasn’t because of a collision with any of the Pilot forwards, but rather a collision with fellow senior Danesha Adams, who had just headed in the golden goal in the fourth minute of the second overtime period, giving UCLA a 3-2 win.
“Right when she scored she turned and started running toward me and I just ran as fast as I could to her and she just jumped on me,” said Henderson, who suffered a blow to the face in the process. “Danesha and I have fallen short three straight years and nobody wants it as bad as we do this year.”
The senior starters will have another chance to capture the first title in the program’s history, as they helped UCLA clinch its fifth consecutive berth into the NCAA College Cup.
The Bruins had several opportunities in the first overtime that appeared to be goals, but Portland goalkeeper Kelsey Davis managed to make just as many spectacular diving saves to force another extra period.
But just minutes into the second overtime, UCLA was awarded a corner kick that freshman Lauren Barnes took.
“It was slippery over there, so the only thing I was thinking was just don’t slip and get it in the box to give our team a chance,” Barnes said.
Barnes did just that as she sailed the ball over Davis’ head, and then Adams had just one thing on her mind.
“It was a great service in and I just went up and said, “˜I’m going to finish this now,'” Adams said of the setup for the goal.
“It was our time, it was finally our time to finish it.”
UCLA coach Jill Ellis, who had pulled Adams out of the game during the first overtime, decided to put her senior forward back into the game just in case the quarterfinal winner would have to be decided on penalty kicks.
“She and I have had such a journey together and I just love that kid, and for her to have this special moment is great for her,” Ellis said of Adams.
For Ellis, the game presented a number of situations that she had never encountered before.
After going down a goal in the first half, she gave her team a choice in the locker room at halftime. Ellis said that anyone who wanted to give up after 45 minutes of play should walk out the door.
“No one left (the locker room), so that led us to believe that everyone was here to win this game,” Adams said.
It was at that time the Bruins stepped back onto the field with a new fire and a more aggressive attacking mentality.
Adams got the Bruins on the board six minutes into the second half by making an impressive run through four Pilot defenders to unleash a hard shot on goal that went past Davis.
The score would remain at 1-1 until the 73rd minute, when sophomore Kara Lang, who scored both goals in the Bruins’ regular-season 2-1 overtime victory over the Pilots, headed a ball toward the goal that Davis got a hand on but was unable to stop from rolling into the back of the net.
“That was just a really good cross by Tina (DiMartino),” Lang said. “She creates a lot of chances for us to score and she did a good job of putting that one into the box.”
But just when it seemed that the game would end after 90 minutes with UCLA recording a 2-1 win, the Pilots were able to capitalize on a failed Bruin clearance on a corner kick with just over a minute remaining.
“I think my heart dropped out of my chest,” Ellis said. “It’s just gut-wrenching.” But the Bruins were able to respond. They felt they had been dominant much of the second half, setting the stage for Adams’ game-winning goal.
“Today we dealt with adversity to the fullest,” Adams said. “It’s my senior year. I don’t want to go home. I don’t want this to ever end for me.”