In the 15-year history of the UCLA women’s soccer program, only two players had ever accomplished it. Traci Arkenberg was the first in 1996. Current senior Danesha Adams did it in 2005 when she was a sophomore. And now, sophomore Lauren Cheney can add her name to the short list of players who have scored four goals in a single game.
Cheney scored four times en route to a 6-0 Bruin victory over Hawai’i on Sunday, becoming only the third player in school history to accomplish such a feat.
For Cheney, the experience of putting four in the back of the net was nothing new, as she had done so in high school games. And to her, the most important aspect of the game was not her individual achievement.
“As long as my team wins I feel great,” Cheney said.
Cheney’s performance over the weekend, in which she also scored the lone Bruin goal in the team’s 1-1 tie at Pepperdine on Friday, earned her the title of National Player of the Week by Soccer America. When asked how she felt receiving such a distinction, Cheney was surprised and unaware that she had been chosen for the award.
“I actually had no idea I was named that,” Cheney said. “It’s pretty cool. I wouldn’t be able to do it without the teammates around me, so that says a lot for UCLA.”
So far this season, Cheney has picked up where she left off last year. In her first year in Westwood, Cheney had one of the most prolific freshman seasons in UCLA women’s soccer history, setting freshman records for goals (19) and game-winning goals (8). Additionally, she became the first freshman since 1998 to lead the Pac-10 in scoring.
And one year has not slowed her down a bit.
Through seven games, Cheney has netted eight goals and two assists for a total of 18 points, well on her way to surpassing the 39 points she had last year.
Coach Jill Ellis attributes Cheney’s success on the field to her experience and talent on and off the ball.
“She has a lot of experience behind her,” Ellis said. “Even though she is a sophomore, she doesn’t play like a sophomore. She is a goal-scorer, a prolific goal-scorer, and a threat up top. If she isn’t the one putting the ball in the back of the net then she is the one drawing a lot of attention so others can. She engages backs and makes life difficult for the other team.”
Cheney’s impact can be seen not only in the goals she scores and chances she creates, but in bringing a young team together for a tough championship run.
“Cheney can inspire players around her by her effort and her work rate,” Ellis said. “Even though she is a sophomore, we want her to step into an even greater leadership role with this team and help all the players in their development. We are asking a big job but I think that Cheney can lead by the way she plays.
“I think she is a calming influence off the field. I think players think that she is someone they can go talk to about their personal life. But I think overall, we are just working on helping her continue to develop as a leader.”
While it is a tough task to fulfill, Cheney is looking forward to the challenges that come with guiding a young team through a tough schedule to national championship glory, a feat that she nearly accomplished last season.
“This year is definitely a rebuilding year,” Cheney said. “We have so many young players and different players on the field. Right now we are learning, and every game we get better, so I’m excited.
“It doesn’t matter how we start, it matters how we finish.”