Hardworking defense does job right

Tuesday, October 6, 1998

Hardworking defense does job right

WSOCCER: Impressive pack of players fill void, lead team to
recent wins

By Chris Umpierre

Daily Bruin Contributor

It’s official.

The question mark that hovered over the heads of the UCLA
women’s soccer team in the beginning of the season has been
answered.

After losing arguably two of the best defenders to ever play for
UCLA (Rhi Tanaka and Tiffany Brown) to graduation last season, UCLA
women’s soccer head coach Todd Saldana said in the beginning of the
year that defense was the biggest question mark coming into the
year.

But after this weekend Saldana feels the question mark has been
answered.

His defense, led by tournament MVP Skylar Little, allowed just
one goal in 180 tournament minutes in two games over the weekend as
his No. 18 UCLA Bruins (10-1-1) defeated both Villanova (4-6-2),
1-0, and Hawaii (7-2), 4-1, in the Outrigger Hotels & Resorts
No Ka Oi Women’s soccer tournament in Hawaii.

"The first and foremost concern coming into the year was the
defense," Saldana said. "We knew we would have to use some young
players back there with the graduation of Tanaka and Brown. But I
think getting the shutouts early in the season really gave them the
confidence that they can play with these teams."

The defense shut out Navy and Cal Poly, 3-0 and 1-0
respectively, to open the season.

"I would say we are pleasantly surprised about the defense,"
goalkeeper Lindsay Culp said. "The young players we have put in
there have really stepped up for us."

Saldana’s defense is made up of junior Little at sweeper,
sophomore Karissa Hampton and true freshmen Krista Boling at the
other two defender spots, and Culp at goalie.

It has proved to be a good combination, as the four have helped
the Bruin defense roll to seven shutouts in 12 matches, the seventh
coming this past Saturday against Villanova.

After freshman phenom Staci Duncan scored her sixth goal and
17th point of the year just 4:50 into the Villanova match, the
defense was forced to hold off the Wildcat offense as the Bruins
weren’t able to put Villanova away.

"The defense has allowed us to win a lot of games this year
because they give us the time to get goals we need like they did
against Villanova," Saldana said. "That game was kind of a scary
situation because we weren’t able to get that second goal."

The Bruins were able to get the second goal and then some
against Hawaii on Sunday.

UCLA sophomore striker Tracy Milburn opened up the scoring just
nine minutes into the match when she netted a ball from the top of
the penalty box. Hawaii, who came into the match riding a six-game
home winning streak, answered when striker Tricia Nishikawa placed
her penalty kick past Culp at the 26:10 mark of the first half.

The defense held the Hawaii offense at bay the rest of the way,
giving the Bruin offense some time to get some goals.

Freshman midfielder Breana Boling then scored twice in the first
half to give the Bruins a 3-1 lead at the half. The first goal came
at the 30:20 mark after a pass from Bree Edwards. Boling’s second
goal came on a cross from Hampton at 44:45.

Duncan would add another goal at the 85:50 mark of the second
half, giving her a team-leading seven goals and 19 points on the
year.

All told, the defense gave up just nine shots over the two
games. The Bruins held Villanova to just two shots over ninety
minutes, and goaltender Culp only needed to make one save. In the
Hawaii game, the Bruins held the Rainbow Wahine to just seven
shots, and Culp needed only three saves. Culp’s goals against
average through 12 games is now an impressive 0.50.

The junior already has 6.5 shutouts on the year, just 2 from the
school record (8.5 shutouts) she set in 1997.

Although the offense scored five times over the weekend, the
story was the defense as it turned in another solid
performance.

Saldana felt it was right that the tournament MVP went to a
defensive player, Little, and not to an offensive player.

"It makes sense that Skylar was voted the tournament MVP because
the defense is a big reason why we have done so well so far this
year," Saldana said.BAHMAN FARAHDEL/Daily Bruin

Sophomore Venus James has moved into second place on UCLA’s
career scoring list with 34 points. Here, she dribbles the ball
past a Baylor defender.

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