December 4, 2009 UNFORTUNATE ENDING Another College Cup ends in a loss LA Soccer News Staff report
Lauren Cheney scored the equalizer for the Bruins.
Photo courtesy of UCLA Sports Information
COLLEGE STATION, Texas – UCLA has made getting to the College Cup a habit. Unfortunately, they have made coming home without any hardware a habit as well.
The Bruins have been to seven straight final fours and have lost in the semi-finals in each of the last four years, but Bruins head coach Jillian Ellis still had high praise for her team, which dropped a 2-1 overtime decision to Stanford at Aggie Stadium Friday night.
“I thought my team left it all out on the field,” said Ellis. “We played with great heart and great passion. Stanford is a very good team, but I thought we gave them a very good match. I'm very proud of my players."
Kristin Press put the game away in the fourth minute of overtime, pouncing on a ball that came off a defenders head and putting a low 20 yard shot past UCLA goalkeeper Chante’ Sanford.
“I remember thinking through the whole overtime that, as a forward, I would have a chance,”
Press said. “I had to be ready for my one opening. When it comes, I had to hit it hard and low.”
Press convinced herself that the team with the most desire would win, and took it upon herself to play with that intensity.
“When I get into a big game like this, I always tell myself it doesn’t matter if you are the better team or not,” Press said. “It’s who wants it more.”
Kelley O’Hara put Stanford (25-0) on top in the 64th minute. The play started in the back with defender Alicia Jenkins who played a ball forward to Press. Press sent it ahead to Lindsay Taylor who dropped it back to Press. The first team All-America then centered the ball to O'Hara just to the right of the penalty arc. O'Hara turned to her right toward the middle, then cut left two strides an with her right foot, sent the ball high over Sanford.
The goal was the 26th of the season for O’Hara.
“It’s fitting that two of the best strikers in the country scored our goals today,” Stanford coach Paul Ratcliffe said.
It wasn’t only the Cardinal strikers doing damage, however as UCLA’s Lauren Cheney struck the equalizer in the 75th minute. A long throw in came to midfielder Kyle Wright. Wright played the ball to Cheney who turned to her right and went around a defender with her first touch before launching a shot from the top of the 18 to the opposite side of the net.
It was the first time this season the Cardinal had relinquished a lead.
"Kylie played me the ball," said Cheney. "Their defenders had been playing hard. They wanted me to turn. I spun the girl, took a look and saw I had a shot."
Cheney's goal tied her with Traci Arkenberg for first place all-time at UCLA in career goals, as both players ended their four-year careers with 71 apiece. Cheney also ends her UCLA career with a school-record 173 points.
"It's obviously an honor to have broken records at UCLA," added Cheney. "There have been great players come through this program. Besides records and College Cups, I hope I leave a mark other than just that. Everyone on this team is special. It's just been amazing. Every team goes through ups and downs. I've never met a bunch of girls as amazing as this."
Despite the scoreless first 63 minutes, both teams had plenty of opportunities. In the 26th minute, Kristina Larsen rifled a hard shot on goal that was stopped by a diving Stanford goalkeeper Kira Maker.
In the 33rd minute, UCLA’s Sydney Leroux broke in on the left, Cheney got in front of her defender and ran onto the ball, but her shot went wide to the left.
Cheney got a ball played right to her feet in the 42nd minute , but her shot ricocheted off a defender and went right to Maker.
O’Hara had a great opportunity to give the Cardinal the lead in the 58th minute, when she broke in on the left side when Sandiford had come out of the goal to try and retrieve the ball, but the UCLA defense closed down around her.
After the two goals, both teams pressed for the regulation winner. Mariah Noguiera got a head on a serve into the box, but her shot was stopped by Sandiford in the 85th minute
A minute later, UCLA’s Leroux beat a pair of defenders to the ball and got off a quick shot that went high.
Standford’s Lindsay Taylor had a 90th minute shot go wide, and just seconds later, O’Hara almost ended the game when she got past Sandiford who was on the ground, but her shot hit post.
"I thought we played exceptionally well,” said Ellis. “It's unfortunate it has to end. I know I don't have any regrets with this team coming off the field and the way we played the game. This team has been phenomenally special to me. No regrets."
Stanford will play North Carolina, 1-0 winners over Notre Dame in the evening’s other semifinal, on Sunday.
“We have to stay humble and realize the job is not done,” Ratcliffe said. “We have one more step to take. As much as it’s exciting and was a great win, we want to win on Sunday and win the national title. That’s our goal.”
Stanford, which beat the visiting Bruins 2-0 on Oct. 18 on the way to the Pacific-10 Conference title, outshot UCLA, 19-16. Stanford has outshot every opponent, but that was the closest shot margin of the season. And it was the Cardinal’s second overtime match, having beaten host Washington State, 2-1, on Oct. 23 on an O’Hara goal. BRUINS AT THE COLLEGE CUP
2000---Championship: Championship: North Carolina 2, UCLA 1.
2003--Semifinals: North Carolina 3, UCLA 0;
2004--Championship: Notre Dame** 1, UCLA 1 (2 ot, pk).
2005--Championship: Portland 4, UCLA
2006---Semifinals: North Carolina 2, UCLA 0
2007---Semifinals: Southern California 2, UCLA 1.
2008---Semifinals: North Carolina 1, UCLA 0
2009—Semifinals: Stanford 2, UCLA 0 (ot)
