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By Kristen Davis
Arizona Daily Wildcat
September 10, 1996
The Arizona women's soccer team dropped to 0-4 overall and 0-1 in the Pacific 10 Conference Sunday after losing to No. 14 UCLA 6-0 in Los Angeles."It's really discouraging that we haven't won yet, but we have to look at the positives," senior defender and co-captain Jennifer Rickard said.
The Bruins (1-1 overall, 1-0 in the Pac-10) were led by forward Traci Arkenberg, who scored her second career hat trick on Sunday.
The first goal of the game came from Arkenberg, who scored on a free kick just 1 minute 40 seconds into the game, the fastest time a UCLA player has ever scored.
Eight minutes later, Arkenberg received a throw-in from Sarah Miller and drove past an Arizona defender for an easy shot on goal.
Arkenberg extended the Bruin lead to 3-0, completing her hat trick at the 55-minute mark after scoring off a give-and-go with Lari Kiremidjian.
Rickard said Arizona did not defend Arkenberg tight enough, letting her get through its defense too easily.
"She's an excellent player," Rickard said. "She really fought for those goals and made a lot of opportunities for herself."
During the 75th minute, Sarah Connell passed the ball to freshman Bree Edwards, who scored her first collegiate goal, from the right side of the penalty box, extending UCLA's lead to 4-0.
One minute later, Liz Willemse blasted the ball, hitting the top crossbar and bouncing in the goal from the far left side of the goalie box off a pass from Shannon Thomas.
Thomas received another assist seven minutes later, this time passing the ball to Mari Meinhart, who scored from the left side of the penalty box, increasing UCLA's lead to 6-0.
Rickard said that throughout the season their opponents have been able to capitalize on their breakdowns, but the Wildcats have not been able to convert goals when their opponents make mistakes.
"We have had a couple of really great chances that unfortunately haven't panned out for us," Rickard said.
The Bruins tied the school record for the number of goals against a Division I opponent on Sunday. UCLA's six goals were the most it has scored in a single game in three years.
Rickard said Arizona needs to get quicker out of the back play, using all three of its components.
"We need to integrate with playing with our forwards, midfielders and defense instead of utilizing just one aspect of our team," she said.
In freshman goalkeeper Lindsay Culp's first collegiate shutout, she recorded four saves. The Bruins limited the Wildcats to only five shots on goal.
Arizona goalkeeper Jen Weibel made six saves against the Bruins' 24 shots.
The Wildcats' will hold their annual Meet the Team and Youth Clinic on Wednesday at 6:30 p.m. at their new facility, Wildcat Field, located at 15th Street and Plumer Avenue.
The Meet the Team and Youth Clinic is a night for young soccer athletes to compete in soccer drills with the members of the women's soccer team.
Rickard said she is looking forward to Wednesday night.
"It will be a lot of fun," Rickard said.
"There are a lot of neat kids who come through and talk to you."
Rickard said the young soccer players won't care that the team has had a rough start.
"It feels good to know that people watching still think we're great and want our autographs," Rickard said.
The Wildcats will practice all week in preparation for their home opener against San Francisco on Sunday.
The team is looking at Sunday's game as a new beginning, Rickard said.
"We definitely have to turn things around this weekend," Rickard said. "We are looking at our first home game as a new start because we want to prove ourselves."
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