Come Friday, the end of an era officially begins.
On Aug. 19, 2011, UCLA debuted a super team made of the nation’s brightest newcomers to collegiate women’s soccer.
On Oct. 17, 2014, UCLA’s seniors celebrate the closing chapter of their college careers in their final regular season home game against Arizona (9-3-1, 3-0-2 Pac-12).
“A large portion of our seniors are going to get drafted and play pro either here or in Europe,” said assistant coach Josh Walters. “That’s going to be hard to replace. That’s a special group and a special class.”
Though Friday’s game against the Wildcats is officially the last scheduled regular home game of the season, it won’t likely be the final time the Bruins get to play on home soil in 2014. As a perennial No. 1 team all season and leaders in conference standings, UCLA has placed itself in a strong position to potentially host many of its playoff games.
Measuring strictly on regular season terms, UCLA (12-0-2, 4-0-1) will still have five games over three weeks post-Arizona, all of which will be played on the road.
“I don’t really feel sad yet, this season’s still got quite a lot left in it,” said senior forward Rosie White “It hasn’t really hit home that it’s coming to an end yet.”
The extended road trip is something that Walters said inherently comes with playing in a 12-team conference schedule, with Cal being the team that had to play five consecutive away games toward the end of last season.
But it also gives the nine seniors a chance to bond over the game of soccer and whatever shenanigans that may occur on their final road trips together as Bruins.
“I personally always look forward to road trips,” said senior midfielder Sarah Killion. “Something ridiculous always happens and it’s a good time.”
Even though the team may have about a third of the season left to play, as tradition in college athletics dictates, the final home game of the regular season will be preceded with a ceremony with bouquets and the presence of family members to honor the years the players spent here at UCLA.
Killion said most of her family and some close friends are planning to make the trip from Indiana to share that moment with her at Drake Stadium.
And even for White, a New Zealander, the journey across the Pacific won’t be enough to deter a familiar face from celebrating the special day together with the senior.
“My brothers and my dad are all working, but I was told that my mom got to make the trip out from New Zealand. That’s all I need, really,” White said with a slight chuckle.
Though most of White’s family might have commitments that won’t allow them to make the 12-hour overseas flight, she still has an adopted family that she grew closer to over the last four years.
“She’s got my fam too,” Killion said, as she slung her right arm around her teammate’s shoulder. “We’re all one big family.”