Throughout the season, set pieces have been the bane of the Bruins’ existence, according to coach Margueritte Aozasa.

However, in the national championship match Monday, it was the very play that saved them.

Off a corner kick goal to tie the game with 16 seconds left, No. 1 seed UCLA women’s soccer defeated No. 2 seed North Carolina in a nail-biter 3-2 victory for its second national title in program history. Throughout the season, two of the three goals conceded by the Bruins in their losses came off corner kicks.

But this time it was UCLA who was able to capitalize off a set piece. Aozasa said she saw the goal coming from a mile away.

“I told the team at halftime, ‘We’re going to get our chances,’” Aozasa said. “And we’re going to score a set piece tonight.”

After beginning the season 13-0, the blue and gold collected its first loss of the season at the hands of Stanford on Oct. 14. The Cardinal defeated the Bruins 1-0 off a corner-kick score that the blue and gold was unable to equalize.

Five contests later in its crosstown rival matchup against USC with co-ownership of the Pac-12 title on the line, UCLA lost the trophy. The Bruins were once again defeated at the hands of set pieces.

The Trojans collected two goals in the contest to UCLA’s zero, one off a corner kick and the other as a result of a penalty kick.

Aozasa noted the irony of the goal that made the difference for the team in the waning moments of the national championship game.

“It’s funny or ironic that I think this year we gave up maybe, I don’t know how many goals-wise, but probably 60% of them plus were set pieces,” Aozasa said. “And a few weeks ago, we really had to change our mentality about them.”

Despite the two conference losses, the Bruins were still awarded a No. 1 seed in the tournament, ultimately reaching the College Cup with swift defeats over unranked opponents Northern Arizona and UCF before downing No. 4 seed Northwestern and No. 3 seed Virginia.

Finally, a victory against No. 1 seed Alabama sent the Bruins to the championship game, where they would face No. 2 seed North Carolina.

After a scoreless first half, the Tar Heels collected a goal early the second half. And 16 minutes later, another.

However, sophomore forward Lexi Wright stepped up to the plate and notched the first goal for the Bruins to bring the score within one with 10 minutes left.

The game ticked on, and with each passing moment it looked like the blue and gold would end up the runner-up for the 2022 crown. However, junior forward Reilyn Turner said that wasn’t even a possibility for UCLA until the final seconds were up.

“Unfortunately, we got scored on twice,” Turner said. “But it’s just that heart and that grit just to work for every single second of the game until that whistle was blown.”

And that is just what the Bruins did.

With 38 seconds left in the contest, UCLA was awarded a corner kick. The very play that had cost the Bruins two games in the season was their last opportunity to stay alive in the final game of their campaign.

Needing every chance to get the ball into the net, even graduate student goalkeeper Lauren Brzykcy stepped up to the plate, lining up with Bruin forwards, midfielders and defenders in the 18-yard box.

“We needed to tie in that moment,” Brzykcy said. “I was like, ‘This can’t be my last 20 seconds of my college career.’ I mean, I’m just trying to do everything for this team.”

Freshman midfielder Ally Lemos kicked the ball soaring through the air, just inches in front of the goal, where it found Turner’s head and eventually the back of the net.

Aozasa said she never imagined how impactful the goal would end up being.

“I didn’t know it would be such a monumental set piece,” Aozasa said. “But that one will go down in history.”

After the goal sent the match to overtime, graduate student midfielder Maricarmen Reyes found the back of the net in the second overtime period, and the Bruins were crowned national champions.

Despite losing one crown at the hands of a corner kick, another made the difference in the game for an even bigger trophy.

It looks like the Bruins’ luck for set pieces has turned.