This post was updated Oct. 8 at 10:40 p.m.

The quarter system forces the Bruins to navigate an odd crossroad. As fall quarter boots up, their season inches toward the final whistle.

UCLA women’s soccer (10-2-2, 5-0-1 Big Ten) is preparing for its final cross-country excursion of the regular season, with matchups against Northwestern (5-6-3, 0-4-2) on Thursday and Illinois (6-5-2, 2-3-1) on Sunday.

“Every single game we play right now is pivotal,” said coach Margueritte Aozasa.

Northwestern is a familiar opponent for UCLA. The two units met in the third round of the 2022 NCAA tournament, where the latter secured a 2-0 victory.

Senior Quincy McMahon – who has contributed six points this season including one game-winning goal – scored the Bruins’ second goal to advance to the quarterfinal round in what was eventually a championship-winning season. The veteran defender has played on the frontline recently, showcasing her duality on the field.

“The formation we’re playing is super important,” McMahon said. “We’re really enjoying it, and I think just continuing to get better at it. I think we want to play a little bit more of our style, a little bit more possession-based.”

The Bruins have had to shift things around in terms of players and formation as they continue to develop their identity amid freshmen and transfers joining the starting 12, while some remain sidelined due to injury. A solid defensive approach while weighing in the team’s core pillars and principles will be paramount as the postseason nears, McMahon said.

“I think incorporating both of those is huge,” McMahon said. “Especially going into the next couple games, especially on the road, I think it’d be good just to bring our style to that Big Ten.”

It’s been nearly 15 years since UCLA and Illinois last faced off on the field. But on the two occasions the teams have battled it out in 2007 and 2009, the Bruins have owned the spotlight. While the Bruins are currently unranked in the United Coaches poll, they remain undefeated in conference play, tying with Tennessee and Wisconsin.

“We have to find a way to be better when a team presses us,” Aozasa said. “We need to be much better at that if we’re going to be successful this next weekend.”

Home-field advantage has ushered plenty of support for the Bruins through their three-game homestand earlier this week.

However, fans – or a lack thereof – on the road is well beyond concern for UCLA.

“Our fans are amazing and they will be missed, but we travel with a good amount of parents, friends and family, so that’s good,” said senior midfielder Alice Barbieri.

As the regular season winds down with just a handful of matches left, the Bruins’ upcoming duels present final opportunities to maneuver injuries and unexpected roster shifts. The key: framing the picture right.

“We’re treating every game like a playoff game,” Aozasa said. “They know that the number one thing we have to do is go take care of business.”