Dormant for the last month or so, the UCLA women’s soccer
team’s offense finally erupted this past weekend. The Bruins,
who had tallied just eight goals in their past seven games,
rediscovered their scoring touch, finding the back of the net a
total of 10 times this weekend in a pair of victories against the
Oregon schools. “What I was hoping for was exactly what I
got,” coach Jill Ellis said. “We scored some goals, got
some confidence, and just found the back of the net. It was good
for the confidence of our forwards.” Five different players
scored over the weekend, including a hat trick from defender Kendal
Billingsley on Sunday and a pair of goals from forwards Danesha
Adams and Bristyn Davis. Junior Iris Mora put on a passing clinic,
registering three assists over the weekend and flicking a beautiful
heel pass into the box that helped set up Billingsley’s first
goal on a penalty kick. Adams, UCLA’s leading goal scorer
this year, showcased her speed in both games, out-running the back
line on through balls and then finishing her opportunities. The
freshman, who missed practice last Tuesday and Wednesday after
suffering a neck injury against Santa Clara, continues to be one of
the nation’s most prolific young goal scorers. “When I
first got here, I knew it would be a great challenge playing with
all these girls who have played with the national team,”
Adams said. “I thought I’d come out here and do my
best. So far this season, I’ve been able to help my team
out.”
STILL HURTING: The rest of sophomore defender
Mary Castelanelli’s season is in jeopardy because the stress
fractures in her back still haven’t healed. Castelanelli, who
earlier this month returned to the UCLA lineup for the first time
in nearly a year, experienced more discomfort leading up to last
weekend’s games against the Oregon schools. She played one
half against Oregon State on Friday night before the pain became
too strong. Castelanelli did not play Sunday against Oregon, and
whether she will be available this weekend in Washington will be
determined later in the week. “She’s in a lot of pain
again,” Ellis said. “She’s got two stress
fractures that haven’t healed, and at this point
there’s not much we can do. “We pretty much have to
pick one game a weekend for the rest of the season, nurse it
through and see what we can get out of her.”
INJURY UPDATE: Senior Lindsay Greco, who did
not play at all against the Oregon schools due to a hamstring tear,
will likely play this weekend in Washington, Ellis said. Greco
played sparingly against Santa Clara earlier this month, but was
still not 100 percent. Once healthy, she likely will slide into one
of the starting midfield positions for the Bruins, giving Ellis
more flexibility in choosing her lineup. Midfielder Michelle
Gleason returned to the lineup Friday night, but re-aggravated her
high ankle sprain when she was hit from behind by an Oregon State
player. Although she did not return Friday night, Gleason was in
the starting lineup again Sunday, and is expected to play this
weekend.
QUICK KICKS: Freshman defender Brynn McGrath
scored the first goal of her college career late in Friday’s
matchup against Oregon State. Ellis and Mora each received yellow
cards against the Beavers when they argued with a referee after an
apparent offsides call was not made. The fog was so thick in the
second half Friday night that the official scorers could not see
whether the ball went out of bounds for a corner kick or a goal
kick.