If there was a bright spot for UCLA’s 1-0 loss to Cal on
Sunday, it was because sophomore defender Mary Castelanelli was on
the field. Castelanelli, who has been hampered all season by a pair
of stress fractures in her lower back, played every minute of both
games this weekend for the first time all season. Though she is
still not even close to 100 percent recovered, UCLA coach Jill
Ellis said her presence on the field provided a huge boost for the
team. “She gave us everything she had this weekend,”
Ellis said. “It was great to have her out there.” Ellis
had originally planned to start Castelanelli against Stanford on
Friday and rest her Sunday against Cal, but Ellis changed her mind
after the sophomore felt better than she expected. It will not be
determined until later in the week whether Castelanelli can start
either or both games this weekend in Arizona.
URSINI RETURNS: Sophomore midfielder Caitlin
Ursini, who missed the past four weeks with a fractured wrist,
played sparingly against both Stanford and Cal in a reserve role.
Ursini, who started the first nine games of the season for UCLA
prior to suffering the injury in a 1-0 loss to Utah last month,
likely will not be in the starting lineup this weekend in Arizona.
Instead, Ellis says she plans to start junior Crystal James, who
has been a key cog in the Bruin attack in Ursini’s absence.
“Crystal’s been playing so well that we have to go with
her,” Ellis said.
LOOKING AHEAD: Though Ellis was reluctant to
talk about NCAA Tournament seeding after Sunday’s loss, she
did admit that the seventh-ranked Bruins is likely to not get one
of the top four seeds. The nation’s top four teams
traditionally host through the regional finals. UCLA is still in
good position to earn a top-16 seed, which would mean its first two
tournament games will likely be at Drake Stadium.