Thrown into the starting lineup her very first game at UCLA,
freshman goalkeeper Valerie Henderson has made great strides over
the past two months. Henderson, a two-time All-American at
Miramonte High School in Orinda, Calif., has grown more comfortable
with the pace of the college game. She has not allowed a goal in
five of her last seven games, posting three shutouts against
nationally ranked opponents. “What people are seeing now is
what I’ve seen in Val,” UCLA coach Jill Ellis said.
“Her confidence is growing, and her decision-making is
getting better.” Although a rash of injuries has forced the
No. 8 Bruins (9-3, 2-0 Pac-10) to shuffle their personnel along the
back line, Henderson has been rock solid. She made five saves this
past weekend against the Oregon schools, including a sliding save
in the first half against Oregon State Friday when she came off her
line to cut off a Beaver breakaway. Henderson allowed only one goal
last weekend, a penalty kick early in the second half Friday.
Opponents are averaging just 0.86 goals per game against the Bruins
so far this year. “She knows when to come off her line, and
when to stay,” Ellis said. “She’s just a solid
keeper.” Henderson will need to be at her best this weekend
when the Bruins travel to the Pacific Northwest to face Washington
(9-2-1, 0-1-1) and Washington State (5-5-2, 0-2). The Huskies, who
are led by last year’s Co-Pac-10 Player of the Year Tina
Frompong, have a particularly potent offense. They average 1.87
goals per game.
LINEUP SHUFFLE: With sophomore defender Mary
Castelanelli sidelined by a pair of stress fractures in her back,
freshman Brynn McGrath and sophomore Jessica Harris continue to
split time on the backline. McGrath, a New York native, was
particularly active this past weekend against the Oregon schools.
She scored a goal late in Friday’s game against Oregon State,
and helped put pressure on the Oregon forwards Sunday. Harris got
the start against the Ducks, and recorded a shot on goal.
QUICK KICKS: Senior defender Kendal Billingsley
has scored on five of her nine shots so far this season …
Arizona’s Mallory Miller was named Pac-10 Player of the Week
… Billingsley’s hat trick on Sunday was the first recorded
by a defender in school history … UCLA climbed one spot to No. 6
in Soccer America’s latest rankings.