Unranked women’s soccer ties No. 3 Stanford, 1-1
Bruins hang on in overtime for a moral victory
By Hye Kwon
The UCLA women’s soccer team got the biggest tie of its season,
1-1, against No. 3 Stanford at North Soccer Field on Saturday.
The first half was a one-sided contest in favor of the Cardinal
(13-1-1 overall). They showed off their superior passing game and
demonstrated their fast and dangerous attacks. Stanford had
numerous chances in front of the UCLA goal and eventually found the
net in the 37th minute of the match while the Bruins (10-3-3) were
still trying to shake off the butterflies of playing the
third-ranked team in the country.
Stanford had another great chance to score when forward Erin
Martin took a shot inside the penalty box that hit the goal post.
The first half ended at 1-0, which gave hope and confidence to the
Bruins.
"Coach (Fawcett) gave the team a pep talk during half-time that
fired us up," UCLA forward Traci Arkenberg said. "She said, ‘it’s
only 1-0. We can come back against these guys.’"
Sure enough, Arkenberg scored the equalizer just nine minutes
after that pep talk. The goal came as midfielder Mari Meinhart
headed the ball from the top of the box to a streaking Arkenberg
(12 goals for the season), who always seems to be at the right
place at the right time.
"It was a great relief," Arkenberg remarked about the goal. "It
was unbelievable."
From that point on, the momentum was shifted toward UCLA, and
the Bruins remained in control of the match through the two
overtime periods. Goalie Gretchen Overgaard held firm as she made
several diving saves. In doing so, she broke the school record of
14 saves in a match, which was set last year.
"I think the team was nervous at the start," UCLA head coach Joy
Fawcett said. "But we started playing better as the match
grew."
The Bruins did, however, receive a lucky break with just seconds
to go in regulation. Stanford apparently scored a goal off a
misplayed ball by UCLA defenders, but fortunately for the Bruins,
the goal was called back on an offsides call.
In overtime, neither side had many chances to score. As the
match ended in a 1-1 tie, a jubilant Bruin team jumped up in joy,
while the Cardinal was less than pleased.
"It is disappointing the way we played, but I give credit to
UCLA for a tough match," Stanford head coach Ian Sawyers said.
"They were double teaming whenever possible and made it tough for
our forwards."
UCLA is in good company with teams that were able to manage at
least a tie with the Cardinal this season. The only team that won a
game against the Cardinal this season was No. 1 North Carolina.
"This ranks as one of the best ties in Bruin women soccer
history," Fawcett said.