W. soccer: Bruins begin playoffs today

All that stands between the UCLA women’s soccer team and
the offseason is one more mental lapse.

The Bruins, who looked lackadaisical at times during the
conference season, know they cannot afford another letdown once
NCAA Tournament play begins. That’s why UCLA has pledged to
focus all of its attention on its first-round match with Pepperdine
tonight at Drake Stadium.

“We can’t afford to take any team lightly now, and
we know the consequences when we do,” UCLA forward Bristyn
Davis said. “Every game is a big game now. Our focus will be
there.”

A fixture in the top ten throughout much of the season, UCLA
(13-6) slipped to the No. 14 seed in the NCAA Tournament after a
series of late-season losses against unranked teams. Though the
Bruins have defeated eight postseason teams already this year,
it’s their losses against lower tier teams such as Washington
State, Utah, and California that ensure they will not be looking
past Pepperdine (9-6-3) tonight.

“We’ve learned some tough lessons this season about
focusing on our opponents instead of ourselves,” UCLA coach
Jill Ellis said. “I’ve got some pretty bright young
women. My hope would be that they have learned those lessons, and
realize that now there is no margin for error.”

Pepperdine, the seventh-place team in the West Coast Conference,
struggled down the stretch, but played UCLA tough in the
teams’ only meeting this season. The Bruins beat the Waves,
1-0, in late September on a goal from senior forward Kim
Devine’s in the second half.

If UCLA does defeat Pepperdine today, it will host the winner of
the match between San Diego and UNLV in the second round on Sunday
afternoon.

Although the Bruins have not faced the Rebels this season, they
routed the Toreros by a score of 4-0 in September.

“If we deliver what we are capable of delivering, we can
be a team that can advance through the tournament,” Ellis
said.

“We’ve beaten two of the three teams that are coming
here. The expectation is for sure on us.”

The role of the favorite hasn’t always been kind to the
Bruins this season, particularly during the past month.

UCLA, which advanced to the NCAA semifinals last year and was
ranked No. 3 in the preseason, hasn’t won two games in one
weekend since it swept the Oregon schools back in mid-October.

But if the Bruins have any intention of returning to the College
Cup, they will have to find a way to win back-to-back games.

“We’ve talked about it,” Davis said,
“and we decided we have to let it go.

“This is a clean slate. From this point forward
we’re going to have to string it together for an entire
weekend.”

Plagued by injuries throughout much of the season, UCLA is
finally healthy again. And it couldn’t have come at a better
time.

“The best part of the postseason is that the regular
season is done,” Ellis said.

“It’s been a long season, but we’re excited
and healthy. If we play with energy, good things will
happen.”