This post was updated Oct. 2 at 11:34 p.m.

Early setbacks can fade into the background as a season progresses.

The same can be said for No. 4 UCLA women’s soccer (8-2-1, 4-0-1 Big Ten), which is riding an eight-game unbeaten streak and will face Washington (6-1-5, 3-0-2) on Saturday in Seattle. UCLA has yet to drop a match since its back-to-back losses against then-No. 6 Tennessee and then-No. 19 BYU.

“We had some tough matchups,” sophomore forward Bella Winn said. “It’s definitely a very gritty conference, and it takes a full team effort. But as the past season has gone on, we’ve definitely really started to get our stride, and so we’re excited for the weeks to come.”

Winn scored the only goal in the Bruins’ most recent matchup against Maryland. The sophomore forward recorded an assist and a goal as a starter in the Bruins’ 2024 season-opening matches before suffering a season-ending injury. However, Winn has started in seven of 11 matches this season – playing in every game – and has recorded a team-high four goals.

Saturday’s match will mark the Bruins’ first road game since Sept. 21, where they shut out the Wolverines 1-0.

“When it comes to away games, the biggest thing is recovery and preparation,” coach Margueritte Aozasa said. “So we are going to do everything we can to make sure we have a good game plan, everything we can to make sure that players’ bodies feel good. … Being professional about how we recover so that we can perform.”

Saturday’s contest will kick off a two-week away stretch, with the Bruins returning to Wallis Annenberg Stadium on Oct. 16. The trio of away matches will mark the Bruins’ longest road slate this regular season.

The Huskies are a familiar Big Ten opponent. Both Washington and UCLA were members of the Pac-12 before joining the Big Ten. Unlike for many other Big Ten matchups, the Bruins won’t have to endure another cross-country road trip.

And Washington is rising in the conference ranks. The squad has yet to lose against a Big Ten opponent, and the Huskies achieved a notable shutout win against then-No. 15 USC on Sept. 11.

“They press hard, they run fast, they’re tall, they’re big,” Aozasa said. “Defensively, they’ll really try to disrupt what we try to do. So for us, it’ll be matching their intensity while also maintaining our composure. … They’ve done very well in transition attacking, so we’ll have to do a good job defending the counterattack.”

Midfielder Kelsey Branson and forward/defender Alex Buck have led the Huskies’ frontline throughout the season, scoring all three goals in Washington’s most recent win against Purdue last week. The duo has started in all 12 matches thus far and has combined for seven goals.

Washington midfielder Jadyn Holdenried leads the team with 13 points, including the game-winning goal against Long Beach State earlier this season.

“We’re just taking it as any other game,” senior forward America Frias said. “We know that it’s going to be kind of chippy. … It might be raining and stuff, but we’re excited. Washington’s always a great opponent ever since we played them in the Pac-12. It’s just exciting to have a familiar face.”