Sarah-Gayle Swanson was able to do something Friday that the
whole Bruin team couldn’t do last year in the third round
““ score a goal.
Swanson’s score in the 43rd minute effectively eliminated
harrowing memories of last season, when UCLA outshot Texas A&M
21-0 but lost in penalty kicks.
This time, there would be no such occurrence, as the goal held
up for the rest of the game and the host Bruins went on to defeat
Kansas, 1-0, and advance to the NCAA quarterfinals where they will
face Penn St. on Friday.
“It feels good,” Swanson said. “Especially to
not go into penalty kicks. I was not trying to do that
again.”
No. 4 seed UCLA (19-1-3) dominated play the entire match,
outshooting Kansas 16-2 and generally controlling the possession.
But the team’s best scoring chance didn’t come until
the clock was winding down in the first half.
Forward Kim Devine took a pass from midfielder Whitney Jones on
the right, and back-heeled a pass to Swanson, who found herself
open in front of the net.
“She kind of flicked it back and I was open,”
Swanson said. “I just touched it and then slotted
it.”
The shot from seven yards out just squirted by the outstretched
fingertips of diving Jayhawk goalkeeper Meghan Miller, and the
single score would turn out to be enough.
Kansas forward and Player of the Year candidate Caroline Smith
was held in check all night, as the sophomore managed just one
shot.
“I don’t think we had our best performance
today,” Smith said. “I think we were a little
intimidated by them because they were bigger than us.”
The Bruin defense was certainly keyed on Smith, the
Jayhawks’ (18-6-1) primary offensive weapon this season with
19 goals.
“The defense was great,” UCLA coach Jill Ellis said.
“Their whole offense was (Smith). Any time we lost
possession, we got a body right next to her. Our backline did an
excellent job.”
The UCLA defense, anchored in the middle by Pac-10 Co-Player of
the Year Nandi Pryce, hasn’t allowed a goal in the
team’s first three tournament wins.
“I think we were focused defensively,” Pryce said.
“I was really excited to be a part of that unit.”
But for how well the defense played, the Bruins’ offense
left something to be desired.
“We just weren’t dynamic in the attacking third
finishing our chances,” Ellis said. “Our shot selection
wasn’t good and our crosses weren’t great.”
Forward Bristyn Davis had a one-on-one chance against Miller in
the 39th minute, but she sent her shot right at the Jayhawk keeper.
Forward Iris Mora got behind the defense following the second half
kickoff, but Miller, who finished with eight saves, turned her
away.
“I think we were just a little bit off,” Swanson
said.
The offensive mediocrity, however, couldn’t keep the
Bruins from being happy with the result.
“To come in against a good team that’s won 18 games,
it’s good to win and not fire on all cylinders,” Ellis
said. “It was just one of those games where your emotions are
in it and you’re kind of clawing at it.”
In the end, it was probably the Bruins’ experience that
got them through to the next round. This year marks UCLA’s
fourth appearance in the NCAA quarterfinals, while Kansas was
playing in its first-ever Sweet 16.
“We’ve been there,” Ellis said. “I think
we were a bit more seasoned.”