Women’s soccer defense boosts overall offensive strategy
Junior MacKenzie Cerda transitioned from forward to defense along with teammate sophomore Hailie Mace to anchor the Bruins’ back line. Cerda is also tied for the team lead with six assists on the year. (Ken Shin/Daily Bruin)
By Kyle Cardoza
Oct. 17, 2016 10:11 p.m.
Every player has had a role in this year’s resurgent offense for UCLA women’s soccer.
The forwards have finished and midfielders have facilitated. But a main reason why the Bruins’ offense has been efficient thus far stems from the defenders’ attacking capability.
“It’s kind of built into the game plan,” said junior defender MacKenzie Cerda. “Most of our defense – our outside backs – are taught to get up into the attack. Our centerbacks are awesome dribblers and they have been able to get through the other team and get crosses off.”
Since coach Amanda Cromwell’s arrival in 2013, No. 14 UCLA (10-3-1, 4-1-1 Pac-12) defenders have been a significant piece of the offensive scheme.
This year hasn’t been any different for the Bruins.
The defensive corps possesses speed and athleticism, journeying up the pitch at ease and creating opportunities for UCLA’s up-tempo, possession-based offense.
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“You always want your outside backs to be a part of the attack. That’s how you create numbers up (the field),” Cromwell said. “You can tell when we attack well, they’re a part of it, and if we’re not, they’re sitting back too much.”
The group has become a valuable asset for an offense that has already eclipsed last year’s goal total. While none of the starting defenders have found the back of the net through 14 games, each of the four has recorded at least two assists. Cerda is tied for the team-lead with six.
Cromwell didn’t hesitate to dub this year’s defensive unit as talented, but said it’s difficult to compare them to some of the team’s former backfield brigades.
The coach recalled the defensive group from the 2013 and 2014 seasons, made up of Megan Oyster, Abby Dahlkemper, Ally Courtnall and Caprice Dydasco. Three of the four currently play professional soccer.
[Related: Women’s soccer scores first national championship, No. 110 for UCLA]
“That’s one of the most athletic, skillful back lines to ever play the game in college,” Cromwell said. “Just some things – like even if there (was) a breakdown, how they covered for each other and how they used their speed and how they used their athleticism, but also how they communicated and organized. That would be a great back line to emulate.”
What separates this year’s group from others is their inexperience as defenders. Cerda and sophomore center back Hailie Mace originally played as forwards, then transitioned to defense.
The mesh between freshman Kaiya McCullough and redshirt junior Zoey Goralski contributes to the group’s potency on offense and defense as well. Even without years of experience in the backfield on their resumes, they platoon as two-way players when they’re on the pitch together.
“In the beginning, we were all new defenders,” Cerda said. “This whole year we’ve grown each game to be one unit and work together, and that has definitely helped us.”
