Just days after losing one starting midfielder, the UCLA
women’s soccer team may gain another. The Bruins (6-2) lost
senior Lindsay Greco for the next three weeks due to a hamstring
tear. But UCLA coach Jill Ellis is hopeful that sophomore Michelle
Gleason, who is suffering from a high ankle sprain, will return
this weekend and help offset Greco’s absence. Gleason has not
played since Sept. 5 against UCSB. Though her natural position is
on the back line, Gleason will likely play as a defensive
midfielder when she returns. Ellis said Gleason has not fully
recovered and she will need to avoid the more physical play on
defense. “In the back there is a lot more sliding in and
crunching and more chasing of girls, and I don’t know if she
is ready for that,” Ellis said. “In the midfield,
it’s a lot less speed.”
CASTELANELLI IN LIMBO: Sophomore defender Mary
Castelanelli has been called up to try out with the under-19
national team, but it is still unknown whether she will make the
team or not. She is expected to find out before Friday’s game
against Utah. Castelanelli has not played with the Bruins or
practiced with the national team this year due to a stress fracture
in her back. If she does make the U-19, she will be granted a
redshirt year and will not lose a year of eligibility. If she is
released from the national team, she will immediately return to the
Bruins and probably earn a starting defender spot.
LINEUP CHANGES: The absence of Gleason and
sophomore defender Mary Castelanelli has forced Ellis to throw some
of her more inexperienced players into the fire. Freshman Brynn
McGrath and sophomore Jessica Harris, neither of whom had ever seen
much playing time, both made starts earlier this month. But while
both are young, the defense has not suffered recently. The Bruins
have not allowed a goal in their last three games. Senior defender
Kendal Billingsley is pleased with how the young defenders are
holding up. “They are starting to learn about the college
game, and they all work hard and are starting to step up,”
Billingsley said. “Defense is a lot about communicating and
everybody being on the same page and sometimes that is not there,
but it is getting better.” McGrath, a freshman, was not
expecting to head into her first collegiate season. “It was a
surprise,” McGrath said. “I didn’t think I would
be starting right away.” McGrath has had constant competition
from Greco, Harris, and others for playing time, but she has
enjoyed the challenge and is optimistic that she can gain a
permanent spot in the starting lineup. “I like competition; I
think it makes you a better player,” McGrath said.
“Hopefully I can earn a starting spot, but it is going to be
a challenge.”