Women’s soccer to face North Carolina in Elite Eight
Sophomore forward Taylor Smith said that although UCLA is excited to face North Carolina again, the team is hoping to exhibit much tougher gameplay against the Tar Heels.
By Susana Vazquez
Nov. 27, 2013 12:00 a.m.
The end of the road to the Bruins’ 110th NCAA Championship is getting closer for the UCLA women’s soccer team.
After shutout victories over the weekend against Kentucky and Stanford on Friday and Sunday respectively, the Bruins move on to the Elite Eight where they will face No. 1-seeded North Carolina in Chapel Hill, N.C. on Saturday.
The Bruins and the Tar Heels met in September at North Carolina in a match UCLA lost 1-0, the only loss the team has suffered all season.
“We played the team before (this year); they weren’t our favorite, but we’re really excited and we are going to come out harder this time,” said sophomore forward Taylor Smith.
The Bruins will travel to North Carolina after beating Stanford in the third round of NCAA tournament. With the win against the Cardinal, the Bruins finished their season undefeated at home, recording 11 wins, with 10 shutouts, at Drake Stadium.
Part of the Bruin’s success can be credited to the defensive unit: UCLA’s back line has allowed only one goal at home all season. Junior defender Abby Dahlkemper said that the defense is versatile, but having good communication with the rest of the team has been the key to the Bruin’s success at home.
“Defense is making it predictable for other teammates to win the ball, so it’s not necessarily the first man that needs to win it, just your other teammates behind you that it’s easier for them to win it,” Dahlkemper said. “I think communication and part of being on the same page helps as well.”
Last year the Bruins also made it to the Elite Eight, where they lost to the Cardinal 2-1.
And the last time UCLA and North Carolina played in the NCAA tournament was in the semifinals of 2008, where the Bruins fell to the Tar Heels 1-0.
Players do not need inspirational speeches to get pumped up for playoff matches, but Dahlkemper said she is extra-motivated for the match against North Carolina because it is going to be an opportunity to avenge the Bruins’ loss to the Tar Heels earlier this year.
“(We have) a little bit of a bitter taste from earlier this season so (we are) definitely looking to get some revenge and work together as a team and keep getting better to move on and stay in North Carolina for the Final Four,” Dahlkemper said.
Coach Amanda Cromwell said she thought UCLA would play against North Carolina in the postseason, but deeper into the tournament.
“I had a feeling we might see this team again down the road,” Cromwell said. “I was hoping maybe it was in the Final Four or something, but Elite Eight, we got to beat the best to win it all. So I’m looking forward to the game next Saturday (when) the girls get this chance to avenge that one loss.”
