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Jill Ellis expected it to be a fight. She expected her team to have to battle a team nearly identical to her own in style and ability. She expected a challenge.

She certainly didn’t expect this.

Ellis’ Bruins played perhaps their most inspired soccer of the season in Friday night’s quarterfinal match at Drake Stadium, dominating Penn State from the opening kickoff and going on to win 4-0. With the victory, UCLA advances to the Final Four of the College Cup, where the team will meet No. 1 North Carolina on Friday.

“Winning is always a good experience, but to win in the way that we did makes it even more special,” Ellis said. “It was just a fantastic team performance tonight.”

The No. 4 seed Bruins (20-1-3) were brilliant from the get-go, displaying their athleticism and conditioning in winning 50-50 balls, beating Penn State players to loose balls, connecting crisp passes and playing smothering defense. It was a first half deluge that left the No. 5 Nittany Lions (19-3-3) scrambling for answers.

“You’ve got to give credit to UCLA,” Penn State coach Paula Wilkins said.

“They went for it. They were taking risks. They were putting us under pressure, and we got put on our heels at the very beginning. We couldn’t get ourselves out of it, and that’s a credit to UCLA and how hard they came out.”

After missing on several great 1-on-1 opportunities early against Penn State goalkeeper Amanda Brown, the Bruins got on the scoreboard at the 15:58 mark with a goal by senior midfielder Whitney Jones.

On UCLA’s first corner kick of the game, sophomore forward Iris Mora served the ball into the box. It was headed forward by senior defender Nandi Pryce, and then chested by Jones. The ball bounced off Brown and back to Jones, who headed it into the back of the net.

“I feel like we were really confident coming in,” Jones said. “It was our last home game for the seniors on this field, so we were all pumped for this game.”

After getting that first goal, the Bruins kept the pressure on, refusing to grow complacent. And it was Mora, the team’s leader in goals and assists, who added the second.

In the 37th minute, Mora took a pass at the 18-yard line and cleverly flicked it over her head, eluding two Penn State defenders in the process.

She turned, found herself with space and struck the bouncing ball with her left foot. The shot bounced off the right post and deflected in off the back of the diving Brown.

“You just have one opportunity in the game, and you have to score the thing,” Mora said. “It was a great opportunity.”

The beginning of the second half was a different story, as UCLA appeared much more passive in its attack. With Mora and starting sophomore midfielder Jill Oakes on the bench for a much-deserved rest, the Bruins struggled to create chances.

However, the defense, which hasn’t allowed a goal in the team’s four playoff games, remained tough. Penn State never really had a quality opportunity, as UCLA freshman goalkeeper Arianna Criscione finished the game with one save.

“Our back line was just superb,” Ellis said.

With Mora and Oakes back in the game, UCLA added an insurance goal in the 77th minute, as Davis finally converted a 1-on-1 chance. Mora and Pryce assisted on the play. Junior forward Kim Devine rounded out the scoring at the 89:11 mark when she scored on a corner kick.

But this was really a game that was won in the first half.

“I just thought the pace of the game was so quick,” Ellis said. “We were just first to every ball and we were putting a lot of pressure on them. I think they were kind of like, ‘Whoa,’ and we were fortunate enough to pounce.”

UCLA also had some extra motivation, knowing that the team’s year-long goal was to make it to the Final Four.

“It was the whole idea of, this was the one step to get where we’ve wanted to get the whole year,” Pryce said. “Even when it started to get rough on the field, everyone was reminding each other, ‘This is for the Final Four, this is for every day of fitness that you’ve worked so hard for – days where you’ve wanted to give up – this is what it comes down to.”

Now it comes down to No. 1 North Carolina. And the Bruins are expecting a war.