The UCLA women’s soccer team lost nine players and seven
starters to graduation last year. Those players were replaced with
eight freshmen, four of whom are already starters with one coming
off the bench.
That formula alone would suggest a rebuilding year. Yet these
freshmen are part of a recruiting class that was considered No. 2
in the nation.
As a result of the freshman contribution, the No. 3 Bruins are
in the sweet 16 against Texas A&M in the NCAA College Cup and
are looking to advance to the quarterfinals for the third year in a
row. Beyond that, the Bruins are aiming for the National Title, so
it’s hardly a rebuilding year for UCLA.
“The freshmen have played awesome this year; they’ve
really stepped up and contributed to a lot the team,” junior
Kathryn Lee said. “Each of the freshmen has their separate
talents, each of them has their own qualities that are amazing, and
they all contribute to the team.”
It’s a diverse freshman group as well, each with different
backgrounds, different roles and different temperaments on and off
the field.
Midfielder Stacey Lindstrom graduated high school a year early.
Instead of looking forward to senior prom right now, she is a
member of the UCLA starting lineup.
Lindstrom is considered one of the team’s most versatile
and tireless players and has played almost every position except
goalie during the year.
Forward Iris Mora pulls double duty as a striker for the Mexican
National team and for UCLA. She’s a top finisher on the squad
and has the auspicious distinction of scoring against her UCLA
teammates for Mexico when the Mexican national team paid a visit
against the Bruins Sept. 28.
“Iris gives us a dimension that we don’t
have,” UCLA head coach Jillian Ellis said.
“She’s smart; she makes great runs off the ball, and
she’s lively and creates goals for us. Iris will get an
opportunity each game to score because she unbalances
defenses.”
Jill Oakes came to UCLA as the No. 1 Blue Chip recruit. She has
been in training camp with the U.S. National Team and is a starter
for UCLA. She has been a stabilizing presence in the Bruin
midfield. She sustained a knee injury against USC last Sunday and
will not play against Texas A&M Saturday night.
“Jill is kind of like the enforcer – she kept everything
calm in the midfield; when the pace is frantic, she’d calm it
down and play it out, she’s a real smooth player,” Lee
said.
Midfielder Allie True will move into the starting lineup and
will take on a heavier responsibility with Jill Oakes unable to
play against Texas A&M.
“Allie hasn’t always started for us because I feel
that bringing her in off the bench she has an immediate
impact,” Ellis said. “She’s a spark plug for
us.”
Freshman Katie Rivera comes off the bench and has managed to be
one of the team’s leading scorers with six goals and four
assists.
This year’s crop of freshman has exceeded Ellis’s
expectation with its performance, but the youth movement on the
Bruin squad has established a continuity that suggests business is
carrying on as usual for the UCLA women’s soccer team.