KEY GAMES
Sept. 10 v. Notre Dame
UCLA and Notre Dame have high hopes for a national-title run as both teams made it to the Final Four of the College Cup in 2009.
Oct. 10 v. Stanford
UCLA has a score or two to settle with Stanford. Not only did the Cardinal beat out the Bruins for the Pac-10 title last year, it also eliminated UCLA from the College Cup with a 2-1 win in overtime.
Oct. 22 at USC
The Bruins travel across town to face a USC team out to avenge its 2-1 loss to UCLA last season.
2009 RECAP
A 7-2 loss against North Carolina gave the Bruins a roughshod start to the 2009 season. But the team ranked No. 3 in the preseason polls would eventually hit its stride, finishing off the regular season 17-2-1 behind the one-two punch combination of forwards Lauren Cheney and Sydney Leroux. UCLA proceeded to plow through the early rounds of the postseason until a 2-1 overtime defeat at the hands of Pac-10 rival Stanford destroyed any chance the Bruins had of winning their first national championship.
SEASON OUTLOOK
UCLA may have lost two key starters in defenders Dea Cook and Lauren Wilmoth, but with sophomores Lucretia Lee and Sophie Metz ready to step into bigger roles, the backline remains in good shape. The midfield is stacked with returning talent the likes of Kylie Wright, Chelsea Cline and Zakiya Bywaters, as well as a midfielder-heavy freshman class that boasts the country’s No. 1 recruit in Jenna Richmond. The big question lies in the frontline, where the Bruins will need another scorer to side with junior forward Sydney Leroux in order to mirror the offensive firepower the Cheney-Leroux duo provided last season.
SOURCE: uclabruins.com
Compiled by Bruins Sports senior staff.