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UCLA women’s soccer to celebrate Senior Day with matchup against Washington

Graduate student goalkeeper Lauren Brzykcy sends the ball down the field. Brzykcy is one of the students being honored during Sunday’s contest for the Bruins’ Senior Day. (Christine Kao/Daily Bruin staff)

Women's Soccer


Washington State
Thursday, 7 p.m.

Wallis Annenberg Stadium
Pac-12 Networks
Washington
Sunday, 2 p.m.

Wallis Annenberg Stadium
Pac-12 Networks

By Isabelle Friedman

Oct. 25, 2022 9:21 p.m.

After a chilly Rocky Mountain road trip, the Bruins are bringing the heat back to The Den.

No. 1 UCLA women’s soccer (15-1, 7-1 Pac-12) will host Washington State (8-4-4, 2-3-3) and Washington (9-4-3, 3-4-1) at Wallis Annenberg Stadium on Thursday and Sunday, respectively, in its final home games of the regular season. The Bruins have held the top spot in the national rankings for eight consecutive weeks but currently stand on the outside looking in for the Pac-12 title, with Stanford possessing the same conference record and the head-to-head tiebreaker.

Coach Margueritte Aozasa coached two national championship teams during her time with the Cardinal and said she feels good about where the team is at right now.

“We feel very lucky that we can continue to play and that we’ve put ourselves in the place for playoffs,” Aozasa said. “What’s nice about this team is I still feel like we’re building. … There’s things that we want to continue to master and continue to develop.”

Many conferences finished regular season play this week, and Aozasa added that the Bruins aren’t taking the extra play time for granted.

UCLA’s last matchup against Washington State in 2021 resulted in a 1-1 tie. The Bruins have yet to face a draw this year, which sophomore defender Jayden Perry credits to the blue and gold’s emphasis on quick offensive success.

“This year, we’re more focused on scoring early,” Perry said. “That’s what sets us up in all these games is if we score early. And even if we don’t score early, we know that the goals are going to come, and we just have to be patient.”

On Thursday against Colorado, junior forward Reilyn Turner put UCLA on the board in the first two minutes of play. Three days later against Utah, sophomore forward Lexi Wright managed to do the same in less than 20 minutes.

Cook said that despite talks of a tournament run, the Bruins are doing their best to focus on the games ahead.

“It’s really important that as a team and as individual players, we just take … it game by game,” Cook said. “Obviously, we’re excited to play in the tournament, but I think if we take care of business every game, then we’ll get to our end goal.”

While this week marks UCLA’s last week at home in the regular season, the Bruins are all but guaranteed at least one matchup at Wallis Annenberg Stadium in the NCAA tournament next month.

Perry said the Bruins’ fans are unmatched, and the team is excited to be back home.

“Oh my gosh. Our fans are the best,” Perry said. “I don’t think we’ve been to a different stadium who’s had better fans than us and more packed stands than us, which is just crazy. How loud everyone is, how involved everyone is at Wallis is just incredible.”

Senior day

Sunday’s matchup against Washington will also serve as UCLA’s Senior Day.

According to Aozasa, the blue and gold’s veterans were a welcome presence for the new coaching staff.

“This week we’ll use to honor our seniors,” Aozasa said. “We’ve been so grateful to have them in our program and especially this year with our staff for the first time. Every single one of them has been fantastic. … They add something so special to the group.”

(Joseph Jimenez/Assistant Photo editor)
Graduate student defender Madelyn Desiano kicks the ball. Desiano scored her first collegiate goal earlier this season after leading the team in assists in 2021. (Joseph Jimenez/Assistant Photo editor)

Eight seniors and graduate students on the Bruins’ roster will be honored Sunday.

Senior forward Kali Trevithick returned from injury this season after sitting out for most of 2020 and 2021. But in her first game back with the blue and gold, Trevithick scored two goals against Cal State Fullerton.

This season, senior defender Brianne Riley has logged three assists and has contributed 897 minutes to one of the top defensive squads in the country.

Perry said the Bruins are particularly eager for the week’s matchups given the Senior Day celebrations.

“We’re excited, especially for Sunday. Sunday’s our senior day, so we really just want to get two wins next week,” Perry said.

Senior forward Sunshine Fontes has racked up a team-high-tying nine goals on the season and was named Pac-12 Offensive Player of the Week earlier this season.

Graduate student defender Madelyn Desiano landed her first career goal this season after leading the Bruins in assists in 2021. She was recognized with Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Week honors in October following UCLA’s contest against Arizona State.

Graduate student goalkeeper Lauren Brzykcy has received eight Pac-12 Goalkeeper of the Week nods in her time with UCLA, in addition to the 2020 Pac-12 Goalkeeper of the Year. With 25 career shutouts to her name, Brzykcy was also named to the 2022 MAC Hermann Trophy Watch List in her sixth season with the Bruins.

UCLA will kick off against Washington State on Thursday at 7 p.m., and the Bruins’ Senior Day matchup against Washington will start at 2 p.m. Sunday.

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Isabelle Friedman | Editor in chief
Friedman is the 2023-2024 editor in chief. She was previously the Copy chief and a slot editor and has also contributed to Sports on the women's golf, women's soccer and gymnastics beats. Friedman is a fourth-year public affairs student.
Friedman is the 2023-2024 editor in chief. She was previously the Copy chief and a slot editor and has also contributed to Sports on the women's golf, women's soccer and gymnastics beats. Friedman is a fourth-year public affairs student.
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