College soccer fans have had Oct. 9 circled on their calendars for a while now; that is the date when rivals UCLA and Stanford face off this season, and for years the two programs have been the gold standard of women’s soccer programs in the Pac-12.
Suddenly, however, what was simply the best matchup in the conference is now the best matchup in the nation: No. 1 Stanford v. No. 2 UCLA. Stanford sits at 11-0-1, 3-0 in the Pac-12, and UCLA is at 10-0-1, 3-0 in the Pac-12.
As similar as their records are, these two programs have taken different routes. While the Bruins have been content to score once or twice and then defend small leads, Stanford has been aggressive at the net and tends to blow out opponents.
Five of the Cardinal’s wins have seen the team score four or more goals, and it has failed to score two only three times.
On top of that, Stanford features a starting lineup full of upperclassmen; UCLA, on the other hand, fills half of its lineup with freshmen.
None of that, of course, means anything at the end of a season; only wins and losses do.
And whoever comes up victorious on Sunday will have earned a big one. What will it take for the Bruins to win against Stanford?
“When it comes down to top-quality teams like Cal and Stanford, what it comes down to is focus, whoever wants it more and just finishing chances,” freshman defender Abby Dahlkemper said.
Oh yeah, Cal. Before the Bruins can take on the top team in the nation, they first have to play Cal (8-3-1, 1-1-1) today, a game that could be easily overlooked in anticipation for Sunday’s matchup.
But forgetting about Cal would be dangerous, considering it’s been floating around the top-25 national rankings.
The Bruins haven’t forgotten about the Bears.
In fact, they probably haven’t even thought about them to begin with; UCLA’s pattern this season has been to figure out their own problems rather than spend time talking about opponents.
“I’m not (thinking about Cal and Stanford),” coach B.J. Snow said on Sunday after the Bruins’ win over Oregon State. “I’m not thinking about it. I’m going to enjoy this and start thinking about next weekend later.”
That might sound strange, but it really isn’t.
John Wooden spent years practicing the philosophy of focusing on one’s own team rather than the opponent, and it seemed to work out fairly well for the Wizard of Westwood.
That doesn’t mean this team isn’t excited or thinking about this weekend at all. Dahlkemper is from Menlo Park, so this constitutes a homecoming of sorts for the freshman.
“I am excited to be back where I am from, and I know the area pretty well. A lot of my family and friends are coming to the Stanford game and also the Cal game,” sophomore midfielder Chelsea Braun and senior defender Summer Williams also hail from areas near Stanford and Cal.
For everyone else, this is simply the best opportunity to see what the Bruins really have this season against the toughest competition possible.
“We just have to play stronger, and when you have a rivalry, you always want to win and go hard,” sophomore midfielder Jenna Richmond said.
“I think that (the rivalry) helps; it makes the atmosphere better.”