UCLA routs Duke; College Cup next

Forgive UCLA women’s soccer Coach Jillian Ellis for not memorizing the box score.

“I don’t even know who scored what, to be honest with you,” Ellis said with a laugh.

That’s because there were so many goals in the Bruins’ 6-1 victory over Duke on Saturday night in an NCAA quarterfinal at Drake Stadium.

Forward Kristina Larsen scored twice and four others had one goal apiece, giving Ellis what she called a “multi-faceted attack” that the Bruins (22-0-2) will take into a College Cup semifinal against North Carolina on Friday at Cary, N.C.

UCLA will be making its sixth straight College Cup appearance, and the victory over Duke enabled the Bruins to tie a school record for wins in a season, set in 2005.

The Bruins extended their postseason by peppering Duke goalie Cassidy Powers with 27 shots. She made 13 saves, but the Bruins’ six goals were double what the Blue Devils yielded in their previous eight games.

“That’s what makes this UCLA team different than any other one,” said Bruins forward Lauren Cheney, a junior who had one goal. “Everyone can do their part and they do it well.”

UCLA not only split up the scoring duties, the Bruins also scored in a variety of ways.

Senior midfielder McCall Zerboni converted off a corner kick for a 1-0 lead in the fifth minute. Cheney’s header gave the Bruins a 2-1 edge in the 18th minute. UCLA entered halftime with a 3-1 cushion after senior midfielder Christina DiMartino connected on a 30-yard shot in the 44th minute.

“We exploited them by getting the ball wide a lot,” Zerboni said. “We found their weaknesses and broke them down by playing behind them.”

Duke (15-6-3) has never advanced beyond the quarterfinals. And UCLA, despite its streak of College Cup appearances, has never won a national championship.

Cheney says the team’s balance could change that.

“At some point, every time we’ve been there, we played scared or didn’t play our game,” she said. “This year, we have the experience, great leaders, and seniors that can lead us if they want to.”

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