Amid shouting, cheering and a little good-natured teasing, coach B.J. Snow unwound and sent a shot flying a few feet over the top of the goal.
Shots from different players quickly followed. Some found the back of the net, others went wide, and a good number were stopped by freshman goalkeeper Katelyn Rowland and redshirt sophomore goalkeeper Alana Munger.
For the UCLA women’s soccer team, it was a fun end to Tuesday’s practice, an opportunity to relax before the real preparation for this weekend’s game begin.
“Usually I don’t [participate], but this was just one of those days,” said Snow smiling as he iced his right thigh after practice. “We were working on finishing, it was getting competitive, and the girls asked [assistant coach Louise Lieberman] and I to jump in so we happily obliged.”
After completing a three-game road trip that included playing two double overtime matches, the Bruins deserve a small break.
“To be able to have four practice days in a week, which we normally don’t have, has been great,” said Snow, referring to the fact that Friday’s game against Washington State was UCLA’s only game of the weekend.
“It’s been a little lighter the first few days, but they have had a great attitude.”
Rowland is just as upbeat about the team’s recent mentality.
“There is a really positive tone,” she said. “We love to come out and work hard. There is great chemistry. We just want to keep getting better.”
Tuesday’s practice may have left the team feeling relaxed, but it was definitely an exception to the rule.
“The tone is always very serious,” said sophomore defender Ariana Martinez. “We come to practice to work. Today was a little different, but it was a good balance.”
“We know when it’s serious and we need to focus, but we also have those drills that are fun and everyone is relaxed.”
Relaxed. If there is anything that the team should take away from Tuesday’s light-hearted shooting game, it is that one word.
UCLA has struggled to find the back of the net throughout the season, and if the team wants to come away with a pair of wins this weekend against the Arizona schools, goals are a must.
“It comes with repetition and it comes with attitude,” Snow said on scoring. “The great finishers in the world have the mentality that they are going to relax and finish the ball rather than rush and just shoot it.”
“And sometimes we get that habit of just trying to get a shot off when it matters more about getting the right mentality to get the ball in the back of the net.”
The Bruins have taken 258 shots this season, but less than half have been on goal, and only 20 have found the back of the net.
Finishing scoring opportunities has been a consistent theme all season, and at practice this week, the focus is no different
“Tactically, getting our midfield involved, finishing and crossing,” said Martinez on what the Bruins have been working on during the week. “[Tuesday] we spent almost an hour crossing, so attacking is definitely the goal.”
Nursing bruises and bumps
Freshman midfielder/defender Ally Courtnall did not travel with the team to Washington State because of an injury to her quad. She is expected to play this weekend.