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Bruins trump the Cardinal in two-goal comeback win at home

Even though UCLA initially trailed the Stanford Cardinal early in the second half, the Bruins were able to comeback from the one-goal deficit to win the game 2-1. (Aubrey Yeo/Daily Bruin senior staff)

By Aubrey Yeo

Oct. 10, 2014 3:58 a.m.

It began with this simple idea to hand the country’s No. 1 defense its first defeat: score one goal.

But No. 3 Stanford’s goal in the 53rd minute created an addendum of another goal to the Bruins’ game plan.

It now seemed like a tall order – score two goals in 38 minutes against a team that had only conceded two in 12 games. But that’s exactly how the comeback narrative played out in the Bruins’ 2-1 win at home.

UCLA (11-0-2, 3-0-1 Pac-12) had control from the get-go, creating chances and limiting Stanford (10-1-2, 2-1-1 Pac-12) to nothing.

But along came a Cardinal corner, and a sigh of relief from the crowd as the Stanford shot skipped past the line.

When Stanford senior midfielder Lo’eau LaBonta finally fired a shot that off a set-piece that hit the back of the Bruins’ net, the crowd took a different tone with the gasp that followed.

The rowdy supporters that had been cheering on the Bruins all night suddenly fell silent, almost like their air had been taken out of its collective lungs. But for the Bruins, that goal became a breath of fresh air.

“It was taking us a while to actually get in our groove,” said senior defender Ally Courtnall. “We started playing better once they actually scored on us, so I think that actually ended up being good for us.”

Being down 1-0 created such a sense of urgency within the Bruins that coach Amanda Cromwell said there wasn’t even a need for a new formation. The motivation from trying to find the equalizer was the only change they needed.

After 24 minutes full of fast, decisive passes and extra-quick steps from the Bruins, Courtnall brought the ball up, took one last look at the goal and decided to take a chance.

“Usually I dribble down the middle and pass to someone else, but I was like, ‘Why not just take a left-footed shot?’” Courtnall said. “I was just shocked that it went in. I mean, it was the best feeling ever.”

When the resulting shot curled toward the top corner away from Cardinal keeper Jane Campbell, “why not?” turned out to be the right question to ask.

It was something Cromwell tried to instill in her right back at halftime, knowing that the defender moving forward more would either earn her penalty or let her get a good shot off. Ultimately, it was something that sent the Bruin coach into high spirits.

“That made me happy when I saw that; she took the words of advice from her coach at halftime,” Cromwell said with a laugh. “I’m not trying to take the credit though.”

Even though the score was now tied at one a piece, the Bruins wanted more.

“We knew a tie isn’t good enough,” said sophomore midfielder Annie Alvarado. “We knew we had to come in and pop another one and not go to overtime.”

With about five minutes left into the game Alvarado found herself drifting in from the right wing, now one-on-one with the goalie.

While the shot wasn’t “low and hard” like Cromwell always talked about, it was certainly low and well-placed – enough to avoid the fingertips of Campbell and ricochet off the upright, into the goal.

“That one’s all about placement. Until I saw it hit the net it was nerve wracking,” Cromwell said. “The luck, the way it’s been going for us, it’s been bouncing out. We haven’t scored multiple goals since the LMU game, so I’m glad we rose to the occasion.”

If there’s ever a time for luck to be on your side, having it happen against the best defense in the country might just be it.

Whether it was that little bit of luck or sheer determination that instrumented the comeback win, what’s undisputable is that UCLA now sits atop the Pac-12.

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Aubrey Yeo | Alumnus
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