UCLA scores victory over USF

Wednesday, October 30, 1996

WOMEN’S SOCCER:

Traci Arkenberg’s stellar game keeps playoff hopes aliveBy Brad
Zucker

Daily Bruin Senior Staff

Jean Paul Verhees sat in his office scratching his head on
Tuesday evening. After all, how could any coach possibly forsee the
impact of a little wet grass on a soccer match, let alone an entire
season?

But as the head coach of the University of San Francisco Lady
Dons (9-7-2, 2-3-1 WCC) watched goalkeeper Amy Voiland slip while
defending against a routine shot in Tuesday’s 3-2 overtime loss to
UCLA (10-6-1, 3-2-0 Pac-10), he saw his team’s playoff chances fall
to the ground as well.

What made things even more difficult to bear was the fact that
USF held the Bruin offense scoreless for 73 minutes, while
mustering 2 goals of their own.

The dramatic comeback for the Bruins began on a direct free kick
that Traci Arkenberg launched into the back of the net following a
handball on USF’s Sara Keenan. Just four minutes later, junior
transfer Rhi Tanaka sent a shot in from 25 yards away to force the
overtime period.

"I thought we dominated the match overall," Verhees said of the
loss. "Not that (UCLA) didn’t deserve to win the game, but I think
they got a little bit of luck."

That luck came in the form of an ‘accidental’ assist on the part
of Arkenberg. Voiland slid to the earth while trying to cover the
ball, which rolled to a wide-open Sarah Connell.

The fact that Arkenberg was even in the game may have come as a
surprise to the Lady Dons; the junior forward was injured in
Sunday’s game against California, and her status for Tuesday’s
contest had been questionable.

"I didn’t notice (Arkenberg) being slowed down," Verhees said.
"But she’s never been a real speedster.

She just has a knack for being in the right place at the right
time."

The Bruin scoring leader couldn’t have picked a better time to
step up her play, as the win kept UCLA’s chances of reaching the
NCAA tournament alive. They can still reach the tourney by way of
an at-large birth alive.

For USF, the playoff dreams are over.

"The bottom line is that to get in the playoffs, you have to
win," Verhees said. "But the truth is that there are a lot of teams
who win a lot of games but don’t really deserve to reach the
tournament."

Whether it is justified or not, UCLA victories over Oregon State
and Stanford could prove to be the deciding factor.

The Bruins return home on Friday afternoon to take on the
Beavers (5-11) before squaring off against the top-ranked
Cardinal.

* * *

UCLA’s Traci Arkenberg has racked up 16 goals on the season,
widening her lead as UCLA’s all-time scoring leader. She also
already owns the school’s single season record with 18 goals as a
sophomore. With two games remaining on the schedule, the Palos
Verdes native has a decent chance at surpassing that mark.

Additionally, Arkenberg is the UCLA career leader in assists and
total points.

* * *

After receiving first-team All-Pac-10 honors last year,
Arkenberg is on the brink of receiving All-American honors for the
first time in her career.

FRED HE/for The Bruin

Traci Arkenberg scored a goal and had an assist last night
against the University of San Francisco.