• printer friendly
• mail this article
• iPod format
• digg

Photo

Sarah-Gayle Swanson and the Bruins face Penn State on Friday.

Photo

Photo

It’s easy to stop one monster.

But three?

Now things are getting serious.

Last week, the UCLA defense performed admirably, shutting down talented Kansas forward Caroline Smith, holding the Big XII Player of the Year to only one shot on goal in the Bruins’ 1-0 victory.

This week, however, as the Bruins prepare to face Penn State on Friday in the NCAA quarterfinals, the prospect of one Smith-like player facing the Bruins is no longer.

The Nittany Lions have three.

Forwards Tiffany Weimer and Heidi Drummond, along with midfielder Joanna Lohman, have combined for 55 of Penn State’s 69 goals this season.

“This is definitely the best offensive team we’ve seen in the playoffs,” UCLA coach Jill Ellis said. “They attack out of the midfield, they attack out of the flanks, and they have two players up top who can finish.”

For the first time this tournament, the No. 4 seed Bruins (19-1-3) face a team that is more than likely their equal. In fact, Penn State beat UCLA last year, 1-0 in double overtime, at the UCLA Women’s Cup.

“It’s going to be exciting,” Penn State coach Paula Wilkins said. “These are two of the top teams in the country. It’s unfortunate that we have to play each other so early.”

No. 5 Penn St. (19-3-2) has made easy work of its first three playoff opponents, downing Navy, 5-1, Rutgers, 3-1, and Texas A&M, 3-0. It has been an offensive explosion that begins with the big three.

Lohman, a Player of the Year candidate, controls the Penn State offense from the midfield. She has registered 19 goals and six assists on the season.

“She’s one of the best midfielders in the college game,” Ellis said.

From her midfield spot, Lohman sets up Weimer and Drummond, who have scored 21 and 15 goals, respectively.

“It makes us dangerous,” Wilkins said. “Teams can’t focus on just one of them.”

But though the Nittany Lions have had their way with the playoff teams they’ve faced so far, this is a Bruin defense that appears to be peaking. In fact, UCLA hasn’t allowed a goal in its first three playoff matches.

“We will possibly be the best defense that they’ve faced all year, so it’s going to be a great challenge on both sides of the ball,” Ellis said.

The UCLA defense is anchored by Pac-10 Co-Player of the Year Nandi Pryce, who is flanked by Kathryn Lee, Amy Fazio and Kendal Billingsley.

“If we play like we did against Kansas, we’ll be okay,” Pryce said. “If our team shows up, nobody can beat us.”

Neither coach was so quick to make that kind of statement. They did, however, agree that looking at the other team is a lot like looking at themselves.

In the course of the season, both have successfully employed 4-4-2 and 4-3-3 sets; both squads finished first in their respective conferences; both are playing their best soccer of the season right now.

“Two very good teams will be slugging it out,” Ellis said. “It’s two very competitive, very athletic teams. It’s really going to come down to the team that puts its opportunities away.

“It’s the four and five seeds. It will come down to the team that wants it, and the team that shows up for 90 minutes on Friday night.”

Comments

Post a comment