An already discouraging week got even worse for the
injury-ravaged UCLA women’s soccer team when goalkeeper
Arianna Criscione rolled her right ankle in practice on
Wednesday.
But Criscione, the Bruins’ lone scholarship goalkeeper in
uniform, will likely start in goal tonight anyway when No. 3 UCLA
hosts Arizona State in a clash between the Pac-10’s top two
teams.
“She’s a tough kid, and there’s not extensive
swelling,” UCLA coach Jill Ellis said. “We’re
going to name her as our starter and evaluate her in warm-ups. I
think she’ll be fine.”
She needs to be because the Bruins (10-1-3, 3-0-1 Pac-10) are
without a proven player at the position if Criscione cannot play.
Starter Sarah Lombardo will have knee surgery today to repair bone
spurs and ligament damage sustained in Sunday’s victory
against California. That leaves walk-on Jaclyn Harwood, who
rejoined the team Wednesday after taking a leave of absence in
September to focus on studying for LSATs, as the only other true
goalie on the roster.
Behind Harwood, the scenario becomes even more bleak for the
Bruins. Midfielder Whitney Jones faced a number of shots in
practice Thursday afternoon, and she would likely play in goal
should Harwood sustain an injury.
“I’ve never really been a goalie before,” said
Jones, who last played the position in youth soccer when she was
7-years-old. “It’s fun diving around out there, but I
definitely wouldn’t want to do it in a game.”
The odds are Jones won’t ever see time in the net, but the
coaching staff has obviously considered the possibility. Assistant
coach Katherine Mertz spent roughly a half-hour working with the
senior Thursday as her teammates jokingly cheered her on.
But there has been little to smile about for the Bruins this
week as they prepare to face an Arizona State squad that could pose
the most serious threat to their Pac-10 title aspirations.
In addition to their injuries at goalkeeper, UCLA has seen its
ranks in the field depleted as well.
Defender Mary Castelanelli has been hampered by a bulging disk
in her back, and will likely miss Friday’s game, while
forward Lindsay Greco and midfielder Stacy Lindstrom are hurting as
well. Greco sat out three days of practice with a viral infection,
but will likely play, as will Lindstrom, who is still recuperating
from a high ankle sprain suffered last Friday against Stanford.
“It’s unfortunate we’ve got all these
injuries, but we have great confidence in what our bench can
do,” Ellis said. “Our bench would probably start on
almost any team in the nation.”
Reserves Stephanie Kron and Caitlin Ursini are likely to see a
lot of playing time against the Sun Devils (8-2-3, 2-0-1), who are
coming off a tie against lowly Arizona last weekend. But although
the Bruins routed Arizona State, 3-0, last season in Tempe, they
ought not take the Sun Devils lightly tonight ““ particularly
if Criscione is unable to play.
Led by preseason All-American defender Amy LePeilbet and
midfielder Brittany Cooper, Arizona State has a formidable defense
that has allowed more than one goal just twice all season.
“This is a pivotal game for us,” Ellis said.
Which is why it’s crucial that Criscione is in goal.