The word “undefeated” hovers over the UCLA women’s soccer team every time it takes the field.
Now, as their season take a turn toward the unpredictable Pac-12, the Bruins are even more determined to cling to the title they have worn for the past nine games.
“I think that it is a little bit in the back of our heads every time we play,” freshman defender Abby Dahlkemper said. “The main focus is to keep improving and getting better, but there is a little pressure.”
Senior forward Sydney Leroux welcomes this additional pressure and believes her team has shown that it is strong enough to fight through it.
“Pressure is always going to be there no matter what,” she said. “The better you do, the more you have, but I think we handle it well. We have been down a couple times this season, and we have come back even harder.”
All the uncertainty that initially surrounded the Bruins, who entered the season with a first-time head coach and 12 highly touted freshmen, has been quickly washed away.
Most people certainly did not expect UCLA to display the level of dominance it has exhibited through the first half of its season. But Leroux has an entirely different answer.
“I mean, I don’t expect to lose,” she said. “I am a very competitive person, so I think I hate to lose more than I love to win, so yeah, I did expect this. I’m mad that we have the tie because we should have had all games won. But I will take it, no losses, so I’m happy.”
Improving practice
The Bruins have played half a season without having to deal with school, but all that is quickly going to change.
Staying focused in practice suddenly become so much harder when you have classes to juggle along with it, but Snow still expects his team to be prepared to train hard.
“It all starts with their mindset coming into practice,” Snow said. “We have been working on the things that they can control. If they bring the right attitude and work hard in practice, then whatever we give them during the day, it’s easier for them to absorb.”
Dynamic defense
The UCLA defense was especially solid against Washington, allowing only a single shot.
“Everyone is getting on the same page defensively,” said Dahlkemper on the backline’s performance. “Building relationships and knowing how we all play is finally fitting into place.”
The Bruins have held all their opponents to a goal or less in every game, earning five shutouts so far.