Heading into Pac-10 play, UCLA on top of standings

Friday, October 9, 1998

Heading into Pac-10 play, UCLA on top of standings

PREVIEW: Team hopes to match last year’s success, create
powerful dynasty

By A. CinQue Carter

Daily Bruin Contributor

What is it called when a team totally dominates its conference
competition? What is it called when they play so well that
absolutely none of their conference foes break through and defeat
them? It’s called a dynasty. (See Stanford, women’s hoops.)

By no means is the UCLA women’s soccer team considered a Pac-10
dynasty, but by the looks of last season’s 9-0 conference record,
they’ve definitely made a good start.

"You have the teams you know you play every year," head coach
Todd Saldana said, "and you don’t want to let them get one up on
you."

Heading into conference play, the Bruins, at 10-1-1, sit atop
the Pac-10 standings. Washington and Washington State, which UCLA
will be playing this weekend, are 4-5-1 and 2-6-2 respectively.

Nationally, UCLA is ranked ninth in the Soccer America poll and
18th in the NSCAA poll.

"The good thing (for our team) is the Pac-10 is something to
look forward to," Saldana added. "With the Pac-10, there’s a big
buildup to it. We want to be peeking when we get there. And while
we know that it won’t be easy, we also know that there’s an
automatic (NCAA Tournament) berth there.

"The Pac-10 will truly judge where we are on a national scale.
We know that playing well in the Pac-10 will help us get further
into the tournament (than we did last season)."

Part of the formula that will help UCLA advance is its defense.
Through 12 games, the Bruins have allowed only six goals, which
sets them atop the conference with a 0.48 goals-against average
(GAA). Lindsay Culp, the Bruins’ goalkeeper, leads the conference
in GAA at 0.50. For the fifth consecutive week, Culp is listed as
the top keeper in the Pac-10. In addition, Culp is ranked eighth
nationally in goalkeeping (through games of September 27) and the
Bruins are sixth nationally in team defense.

Another ingredient of the Bruin defense is junior defender
Skylar Little. Little’s play, in fact, recently earned her the
Outrigger No Ka Oi Most Valuable Player award, after she helped the
Bruin defense limit Villanova and the University of Hawaii to two
and seven shots respectively in the Bruins’ two victories over the
weekend.

With the two wins in Hawaii, the Bruins have extended their
unbeaten streak to nine games and have become the only team in the
Pac-10 team to go undefeated away from home (6-0).

Aside from the fact that UCLA swept conference play last season
and is doing the best so far this season, the Huskies and Cougars
can find extra motivation in the fact that two top players got
away, so to speak.

The Bruins boast two key players who completed their prep
careers in the state of Washington.

Junior midfielder Bree Edwards hails from Newport High School in
Bellevue. Sophomore defender Karissa Hampton, who has started every
game this season and has been an integral part of the Bruin back
line, played her high school ball at Stadium High School in
Tacoma.

A few that remained at home for the Bruins are the freshman trio
from San Jose: forward Staci Duncan and twins Breana (midfielder)
and Krista Boling (defender). Duncan leads the team in points
scored (19), goals (7) and assists (5).

Duncan, after scoring two goals in the Hawaii Tournament, is
currently second in the Pac-10 in assists, tied for second in
points and third in goals scored. Breana is second on the team in
scoring with 12 points (5 goals, 2 assists) after scoring two goals
in the Hawaii game. Krista has come into her own of late, having
started the last three contests for the Bruins – all wins.

On tap Friday night for the Bruins will be Washington. The
Huskies come into this contest 2-0-1 in their last three and were
able to propel sophomore forward Tami Bennett to the Pac-10 Player
of the Week. Bennett currently ranks 17th in the conference in
scoring with 8 points (2 goals, 4 assists) and leads the team in
that respect. UW is currently 43 points behind the Bruins’
conference-leading point total of 73, placing them in a ninth-place
tie with Oregon. Also contributing to the Husky effort is freshman
Caroline Putz, who has recorded six points in her last five games
(2 goals, 2 assists). The Bruins will be the fourth Top 10 opponent
for the Huskies this season. They are 0-3 in such games so far.

Following Friday’s matchup will be a clash with the Cougars of
Washington State. Cougar sophomore forward Deka Dewitt leads the
Pac-10 in scoring, with 20 points (10 goals, 0 assists). Her
presence and contributions, however, have not stopped the Cougars
from dropping four straight going in to Friday’s contest versus
USC. WSU is currently third in conference points with 63.

With an undefeated conference mark from last season fresh in
their minds, a nine-game unbeaten streak and a ranking of ninth in
the Soccer America poll, one might think that the Bruins would
become complacent and lose their competitive edge. Not so, says
Saldana.

"Pac-10 or not, the team still feels that we have a long way to
go," Saldana mused. "They (the Bruins) have been anticipating this
from day one. I’m confident about our chances even though we’ve had
minor setbacks.

"And we still feel we have something to prove."

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