By
Brian Penso
Arizona Daily Wildcat
Team counting on freshman to perform
After finishing second in the NCAA Preview last weekend, the Arizona women's golf team will try to capture their first tournament title of the new season today at the Dick McGuire Invitational in Albuquerque, N.M.
Even though the Wildcats placed second last weekend, the players and coaches believe that their best golf is ahead of them.
"We took second, but we did not play well," senior Christina Monteiro said. "If we come together and play our game, we will have a good shot of winning the tournament."
The No. 1 Wildcats will face a difficult field that consists of 17 teams, including five ranked opponents - No. 6 Tulsa, No. 14 Pepperdine, No. 17 Oklahoma State, No. 18 UCLA and No. 23 New Mexico.
"We need to focus on every shot," UA head coach Greg Allen said. "We need to hit a lot of fairways and greens. Hopefully our best will be good enough this week."
Inconsistent play plagued the young Arizona team last week, but the Wildcats will rely on the talent of two freshmen - Nancy Abiecunas and Lorena Ochoa - to contribute in the Dick McGuire Invitational.
"We have a lot of young talent on this team and it is scary," Monteiro said.
Arizona will also be without sophomore Julia Kraschinski, who has been battling a back injury.
Abiecunas will have to improve on her collegiate debut - last weekend, the freshman finished tied for 63rd place.
"Nancy was under a lot of pressure," Allen said. "You are nervous anytime you do anything for the first time. With one tournament under her belt, I think she will improve and be a big asset to our team."
Monteiro agreed.
"Nancy will definitely improve," she said. "She is a very talented golfer who just needs some experience."
Ochoa, though, showed no signs of being under any pressure in her first collegiate invitational, finishing tied for ninth overall.
"Lorena has played in a lot of international tournaments," junior Cristina Baena said. "She shot great and hopefully she will continue her great play this weekend."
Arizona will be led by Baena and Monteiro as both players have extensive NCAA experience.
Baena finished in third place last weekend at the Dick McGuire Invitational and Monteiro was 15th.
"I played good, but not great," Baena said. "I need to focus on every shot to improve."
Besides being a young team, the Wildcats are still trying to come together as a cohesive unit - only two of Arizona's starters this weekend played for last season's national championship team.
"We are a new group, and it takes time to come together," Monteiro said. "As we come together, I feel our scores will continue to improve."
