It appears Emily Zaplatosch will trade her catcher’s mitt
for a pair of goalie’s gloves, at least for the remainder of
the women’s soccer season.
Zaplatosch, the starting catcher on the UCLA softball team, will
replace senior Jaclyn Harwood as the backup to starting goalkeeper
Arianna Criscione. Harwood, the third UCLA goalie to sustain an
injury last week, is out for the season after breaking her finger
warming up for Sunday’s game against Arizona.
“I never thought I’d be playing soccer at
UCLA,” said Zaplatosch, a former three-time All-State
goalkeeper at Scottsdale Horizon High School. “It’s
been a while since I’ve played soccer, but I think I’m
ready.”
The loss of Harwood is the latest blow to a depleted UCLA
goalkeeping corps that has already lost starter Sarah Lombardo to a
season-ending knee injury suffered Oct. 19 against Cal.
Trainer Kim Antonio Hopkins informed UCLA women’s soccer
coach Jill Ellis of the severity of Harwood’s injury late
Monday night, leaving the fifth-year coach to lie awake pondering
the possibility of midfielder Whitney Jones having to play keeper
for the remainder of the season.
“I went to bed at 11 p.m. and I couldn’t sleep all
night,” Ellis said. “My immediate thought at 4 a.m. was
of Emily. My second thought was to take out an ad in the Daily
Bruin. My third thought was to train Whitney more in
goal.”
By morning, Ellis had decided that her original instinct was the
proper course of action. She called UCLA softball coach Sue Enquist
Tuesday morning to inquire about Zaplatosch’s
availability.
Enquist agreed to allow the sophomore standout to join the
soccer team for the remainder of the season, and Zaplatosch was in
net facing shots by early afternoon.
“It’s kind of happened in fast-forward,” Ellis
said. “Her teammates are excited. They’re very
appreciative to the softball team.”
Zaplatosch will be available to play every game starting with
tonight’s non-conference clash with Loyola Marymount. Ellis
said she would train twice a week, but the coaching staff would try
to keep her out of contact drills whenever possible in order to
keep her healthy for softball.
“The hard part for me will be communicating with my
defense,” said Zaplatosch, who will meet most of her
teammates for the first time prior to tonight’s match.
“But I’ve done alright in practice. I’m looking
forward to it.”
Ellis has more pressing problems to worry about than how her
newest goalkeeper will adjust to collegiate soccer.
“Our biggest concern is getting her cleats in time for
(tonight’s) game,” Ellis said. “Emily has good
hands and good height. She’ll be fine.”