With her team down 2-0 with 10 minutes left in the national title game, the camera panned to Margueritte Aozasa.
The first-year UCLA women’s soccer coach had a calm and collected look as it appeared her team’s magical season was coming to an end.

This post was updated Dec. 5 at 8:38 p.m.
CARY, N.C. — With less than a minute left, it looked like the blue and gold would fall short in the national championship.

No. 1 seed UCLA women’s soccer (21-2-1, 9-2 Pac-12) will face off against No. 2 seed North Carolina (20-4-1, 8-2 ACC) in the national championship game at 3 p.m.

Last season, the second-seeded Bruins walked off the field in tears after being upset in the first round of the NCAA tournament.
A year later, they are set to play in the national championship game against the most storied program in women’s college soccer history.

This post was updated Dec. 2 at 10:27 p.m.
CARY, N.C. — The Bruins’ offense came alive to advance the team to their first national championship since 2017.

A four-year starter at one of the top soccer programs in the country? Check.
A multiple-time national champion as an assistant coach? Check.
A rookie head coach leading the top-ranked team in the nation?

This post was updated Nov. 13 at 11:45 p.m.
Last season, UCLA entered the NCAA tournament as a No. 2 seed and was defeated in the first round. 
This year, the blue and gold started its postseason a little differently. 
After not finding the back of the net in 90 minutes against the Anteaters in 2021, it took the Bruins 39 seconds to get on the board Friday night.

No. 1 seed UCLA women’s soccer (17-2, 9-2 Pac-12) will face Northern Arizona University (10-5-4, 7-1 Big Sky) in the first round of the NCAA Tournament.

This post was updated Nov. 3 at 11:55 p.m. 
No. 1 UCLA women’s soccer (17-1, 9-1 Pac-12) will face off against crosstown rival No. 14 USC (11-2-3, 7-1-2) on the last day of the regular season for a chance at winning the Pac-12 title.

In 2021, the Bruins went undefeated through the first 19 games of the season only to fall for the first time all year in the opening round of the NCAA tournament.