The NCAA Tournament second round women’s soccer match between top-seeded UCLA and University of San Diego was originally scheduled to take place on Sunday afternoon. Due to air quality from the weekend’s Southern California fires, the match was postponed to 6 p.m. tonight at Drake Stadium. On Friday evening, San Diego defeated Long Beach State at Drake Stadium, 1-0, when Ashley Kirk scored the Toreros’ only goal with 10 minutes remaining in regulation. The Bruins played San Diego earlier this season in October at Drake Stadium and came away with a 3-0 victory, which ended the Toreros’ season-high nine-game unbeaten streak.
In its last non-conference game before starting Pac-10 play the following week, UCLA was held to a scoreless tie with San Diego for the first half of the match, thanks to a brilliant performance by goalkeeper Brittany Cameron. The 2008 WCC Defensive Player of the Year made eight saves on the day, including a saved penalty kick in the first half. The Bruins came out of the half aggressive, scoring three goals. The first came 24 seconds into the half, as junior forward Kristina Larsen scored on a close-range shot. UCLA also received goals from senior midfielder Christina DiMartino and junior defender Lauren Wilmoth.
DIMARTINO WINS PAC-10 PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Last week, the conference named DiMartino Pac-10 Player of the Year.
“I’m thrilled for her,” coach Jill Ellis said. “She’s such a special player. She doesn’t always get the stats. She’s such a unique player, and I’m so pleased the Pac-10 recognized a good player and her creativity. It’s great for her senior year. Last year she had a great year, but Tina has been so great for so long. It’s so nice for her to get that (award).”
Including DiMartino, a total of eight Bruins received conference accolades. UCLA had four first-team selections, more than any Pac-10 team. Along with DiMartino, junior forward Lauren Cheney, senior defender Erin Hardy, and redshirt senior Ashley Thompson were named to the Pac-10 first team.
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