UCLA forward Danesha Adams, who suffered a neck injury Sunday
against Santa Clara, was released from the hospital Monday morning
and apparently will be just fine. Adams sustained a mild concussion
after she was undercut by a defender and tumbled headfirst into the
ground, but X-rays showed no structural damage to either her neck
or her back. UCLA coach Jill Ellis said Adams’ neck is still
a little bit sore, but that she expects the freshman to be in the
starting lineup when the No. 7 Bruins open Pac-10 play against
Oregon State on Friday. “Initially when the trainers came out
on the field, she said, “˜I think I can keep
playing,'” Ellis said. “She knew all along it
probably wasn’t that serious, but it was better to be safe
and have her checked out.” Losing Adams for even a few weeks
could have been a significant blow to a UCLA team that has already
been ravaged by injuries. Adams leads the Bruins in scoring with
six goals on the season and has been one of their most dangerous
attackers.
TWICE AS NICE: Kendal Billingsley has now
established herself as the team’s go-to player on penalty
kicks after registering her second goal in as many attempts Sunday.
The senior defender delivered in the 105th minute against Santa
Clara, burying the game’s lone goal in the top right corner
of the net. Earlier this season, she also scored a penalty kick
against Southern Methodist, helping UCLA to a 2-0 victory.
INJURY UPDATE: Midfielder Lindsay Greco, who
was expected to miss two more weeks due to a torn hamstring,
actually played sparingly against Santa Clara. Greco, a senior,
tested the injury before the game and decided to give it a go. She
entered the game as a substitute in both the first and second half,
but did not make much of an impact. “She’s not anywhere
close to 100 percent,” Ellis said. “But it was her last
game against Santa Clara, and she was eager to play.”
QUICK KICKS: UCLA has already used 10 different
starting lineups in its first 10 games … Midfielder Jill Oakes
wrapped her right hamstring before Sunday’s game, but Ellis
said the injury wasn’t serious … Defender Mary
Castelanelli, who has been sidelined with a back injury, played in
her first game of the season Friday against Utah.