Sunday, October 12th, 2008

Team forges past Beavers, Ducks in last home games of the season

Squad Captain, Defender Tracy Winzen basks in Senior Day spotlight; team hopes to improve its follow-through

Yesterday was Senior Day for the women’s soccer team. Tracey Winzen is the lone senior on the squad, so it was essentially Tracey Winzen Day for the team captain and defender.

Moments before the match, UCLA head coach Jillian Ellis talked about Winzen’s impact on the team. Winzen met Ellis, her parents, brother, and associate athletic director Betsy Stephenson on the field to receive a bouquet of flowers while Drake Stadium showered her with applause.

“It was really special,” said Winzen after the match, as she was given even more gifts and was surrounded by young autograph seekers.

Fortunately for Winzen and the rest of the No. 6 Bruins (14-3, 6-1 Pac-10), Oregon State didn’t spoil the party. The Bruins defeated the Beavers 4-1 easily.

“I was upset it was my last game (at Drake),” Winzen said. “I’m going to miss the girls, but I was excited at the same time because it was just me out there, so it was kind of a big day.”

UCLA scored in less than two minutes when freshman midfielder Allie True drove the ball up the right sideline and launched a cross into Oregon State’s goalie box, which sophomore Lindsay Greco finished off for the Bruins’ first goal of the match.

“The first goal within two minutes was brilliant; it set the tone for the rest of the game really,” Ellis said.

The Bruins scored again in the second half when Greco passed the ball from midfield to sophomore forward Crystal James, who finished it off for the Bruins’ second goal.

“We were pleased with our game today, Oregon State has had some good victories this year, and we came out and got business done,” Ellis said. “It was a good way to end our last regular season home game.”

UCLA’s backline defense was so stingy that Bruin sophomore goalkeeper Sarah Lombardo did not have to make a save until 49 minutes into the match.

Lombardo was pulled in the 81st minute for Jaclyn Harwood soon after freshman forward Stacey Lindstrom and freshman midfielder Jill Oakes notched goals for the Bruins to put the game away 4-0.

The Beavers scored a meaningless goal in the 83rd minute on a chip shot over Harwood.

On Friday night the Bruins executed a 2-0 victory over Oregon, featuring a strong defensive performance whereby the Bruins held the Ducks to two shots on goal.

Both Greco and freshman Katie Rivera scored goals for the Bruins in the second half.

“One of our objectives was to score a lot of goals and to only come away with two is a little disappointing,” said Ellis, as UCLA had 23 shots on goal. “We just have to work on our finishing. We’re creating a lot of chances, but we are not really following through.”