The best team didn’t win on Saturday. UCLA’s
women’s soccer team outshot Texas A&M 21-0, but still
lost 0-0 (3-1 in penalty kicks).
“We came here to get a result tonight and style points
were not a part of it,” said Aggies head coach G. Guerrieri,
who goes by his first initial. “It’s unfortunate that a
team can take no shots and still win.”
Not only did Texas A&M not take any shots on goal, but the
Aggies didn’t muster any good scoring opportunities or even a
corner kick.
“We play soccer to win,” UCLA forward Iris Mora
said. “They didn’t.”
The Bruins actually did put two balls into the back of the net,
but both were disallowed.
UCLA had a goal called back in the 51st minute, but a Bruin was
offsides. In the 63rd minute, another goal was disallowed after
another foul.
“There was at least four different occasions where I
thought to myself, “˜Oh no! There’s a
goal,'” Guerrieri said. “It was a strange
game.”
In the 81st minute, Mora was pushed down in the goal box, but no
penalty was called. The refeeres were not in position to see the
play, with the surrounding action taking place.
Mora could not comment on the potential missed call, as it is
school policy not to answer any questions regarding referees.
Still, as much as the Bruins dominated the game, it ended in a
penalty kick shootout.
“Luck determines the outcome of penalty kicks,” Mora
said. “The way they played to get to penalty kicks
wasn’t ethical.”
There were some factors that may have helped Texas A&M in
the shootout. The Aggies were more experienced with penalty kicks,
as their second round match against SMU was decided by penalty
kicks. Also, Texas A&M’s goalkeeper Katy Jo Spisak was
warm, having made nine saves while UCLA’s Sarah Lombardo had
seen virtually no action.
“Once we got to penalty kicks, I knew we’d
win,” Guerrieri said.
After Nandi Pryce’s penalty shot went wide, ending the
game, many of the Bruins burst into tears.
“What’s ringing in my ears right now is what their
coach said to me right after the match, which was “˜life
isn’t fair.'” UCLA head coach Jillian Ellis
said.
This marks the first time in UCLA history that the Bruins held
an opponent to zero shots. And they still lost.
“Penalty kicks aren’t right,” Mora said. “They
need to change the rules.”