This post was updated Sept. 26 at 12:41 a.m.

A Big Ten kickoff on home turf is just around the corner.

No. 18 UCLA women’s soccer (8-2-1, 3-0, Big Ten) arrives in Westwood for a series of home matches at Wallis Annenberg Stadium against Wisconsin (5-2-2, 1-1-1, Big Ten) on Thursday and Minnesota (8-1-1, 2-1-0, Big Ten) on Sunday. The Bruins currently hold a three-match winning streak in conference play, conceding just one goal over that stretch.

UCLA previously squared off against Wisconsin in November 2019 and have won four in a row against the Badgers.

Less than 72 hours later, UCLA will enter the field once more for a showdown against Minnesota, etching a debut clash between the two programs.

Coach Margueritte Aozasa said the home stretch provides a sense of routine, allowing the team to settle down before getting back on the road for Northwestern and Illinois.

“There’s always that comfort and familiarity of playing at home,” she said. “We’re all looking forward to being home, and we know that we always put on a good performance when we are at Wallis.”

For the past two months, UCLA has been on the move, taking on most of its nonconference and inaugural conference matches away from home. Despite missing key players because of injury and international play, the squad has showcased its depth this season, losing only twice while scoring 14 goals across 11 matches.

The upcoming clashes this weekend bring forth new opportunities as the Bruins navigate between both new and familiar opponents in conference action. From exploring the depth of coach Aozasa’s roster to creating more scoring chances, the Bruins continue to gear up.

For junior midfielder Sofia Cook, each match provides a building block to the team’s full potential.

“I think getting our chemistry up with the freshmen, learning to play with some of our transfers, … each game is an opportunity to learn something new and grow one percent better every day,” Cook said.

Junior forward America Frias added that the team’s depth allows more players to get involved as the season progresses.

“We’re able to kind of have more depth in each position,” Frias said. “We’re looking to get more players in as the games go by and emphasize the depth that UCLA women’s offers.”

The Big Ten home opener will commence against Wisconsin on Thursday at 7 p.m., with the action continuing Sunday against Minnesota at 1 p.m.