Race to lead Pac-10 begins in earnest

Aaron Wickenden Arizona Daily Wildcat Sophomore defender Ann Giallonardo (15) kicks the ball past a NAU player two weeks ago. The UA soccer team, after losing both games on the road this weekend, now has a record of 3-5-1 heading into Friday's game against ASU.

Arizona dropped both games on the trip, losing to California 4-1 Friday and to Stanford 8-1 Sunday.

The following is a preview of the entire conference, with teams listed in order of predicted finish.

UCLA Bruins

Current record: 12-1-1, 2-0-0; No. 5 by NSCAA regional ranking

Big wins/losses to date: won at Washington 2-0, lost at home to San Diego State 1-0

1997 record: 19-2 overall, 9-0 Pac-10, conference champions

Coach: Todd Saldana, 1st year

Stars: Lindsay Culp GK (0.50 GAA, 6 shutouts), Breana Boling F (5 goals, 2 assists), Staci Duncan F (7 goals, 5 assists)

Record vs. Arizona: UCLA leads, 4-0-0, last year won at home 2-1

Game date vs. Arizona: Nov. 6 in Tucson

Prediction: The Bruins have everything in place to run roughshod over the rest of the Pac-10 yet again. They host Stanford this Sunday and are at USC Nov. 1.

Stanford Cardinal

Current record: 7-3-2, 1-1-0

Big wins/losses to date: tied No. 2 Santa Clara 0-0 at home, lost to No. 25 BYU 3-2 at home, lost to Arizona State 2-1 at home

1997 record: 11-7-1 overall, 6-2-1 Pac-10

Coach: Steve Swanson (23-16-1 in two years, 78-51-8 in career of eight years)

Stars: Tracy Lawyer F (6 goals), Carly Smolak GK (.91 GAA, 4 shut-outs)

Record vs. Arizona: Stanford leads, 3-0-0, won last year 5-2 in Tucson

Prediction: The home loss to ASU will probably kill the Cardinal's chances of catching the Bruins. Stanford can make up some ground at USC and UCLA this weekend.

Southern Cal Trojans

Current record: 7-5-1, 0-2-0; No. 9 by NSCAA regional ranking

Big wins/losses to date: lost at Washington 3-2, lost at Washington State 2-0

1997 record: 16-3-1 overall, 7-2-0 Pac-10

Coach: Jim Millinder (31-8-1 in two years; 39-35-5 in four year career)

Stars: Kim Clark F/MF (6 goals, 2 assists), Isabelle Harvey MF/F (5 goals, 4 assists)

Record vs. Arizona: USC leads, 3-1-0, last year won 6-3 at home

Game date vs. Arizona: Nov. 8 in Tucson

Prediction: A very shaky pick for third, especially after dropping the first two games up in Washington.

Bouncing back will be tough with Cal and Stanford coming to town this weekend.

California Golden Bears

Current record: 7-5-0, 2-0-0

Big wins/losses to date: lost at No. 2 Santa Clara 1-0, beat Arizona 4-1 in Berkeley

1997: 11-7-1 overall, 6-3-0 Pac-10

Coach: Kevin Boyd (11-7-1 in one year)

Stars: Natalie Stuhlmueller MF (3 goals, 3 assist), Stacy Shearer F (4 goals, 1 assist)

Record vs. Arizona: Cal leads, 3-0-0, won last year 2-0 in Tucson

Prediction: The Bears look strong again this year, sweeping the Arizona schools to open the season. They could leapfrog USC for third without too much trouble, and will get a direct shot at the Trojans this Sunday.

Oregon Ducks

Current record: 4-3-2, 1-0-0

Big wins/losses to date: beat Oregon State 3-0 in Eugene, lost to San Diego 2-0 in Honolulu

1997 record: 5-14-1 overall, 2-7 Pac-10

Coach: Bill Steffen, 3rd year (10-25-3 in two years)

Stars: Chalise Baysa F (6 goals, 3 assists), Amanda Fox GK (1.15 GAA, 2 shutouts)

Record vs. Arizona: Oregon leads 1-0-0, won in Tucson 2-1 last year

Game date vs. Arizona: Oct. 30 in Eugene

Prediction: Fox has been stellar in goal so far, but against competition that isn't exactly Pac-10-worthy. How she holds up against tougher conference foes will be the key to the season.

Arizona Wildcats

Current record: 3-6-1, 0-2-0

Big wins/losses to date: beat Northern Arizona 4-2 at home, lost to Kansas 1-0 in Harrisonburg, Va.

1997 record: 8-11-1 overall, 2-7-0 Pac-10

Coach: Lisa Fraser (25-50-3 in five years, 99-119-18 record in 14 year career)

Stars: Twila Kaufman F (leading scorer with 4 goals), Nikki Jones F (2 goals, 4 assist), Brooke McManus MF (3 goals), Megan Canaday MF (1 goal, 1 assist), Inger Airheart GK (40 saves)

Prediction: This might be overrating the Wildcats, who are a very young team. Their inexperience showed up last weekend. At least they have UCLA and USC at home. The game at ASU this Friday could make or break Arizona's season.

Washington Huskies

Current record: 5-6-1, 1-1-0

Big wins/losses to date: lost at No. 2 Santa Clara 1-0, beat Southern Cal 3-2 in Seattle

1997 record: 7-12 overall, 5-4 Pac-10

Coach: Lesle Gallimore, 5th year (48-39-3 including this year, 76-59-11 in career of eight years)

Stars: Tami Bennett F (4 goals)

Record vs. Arizona: Washington leads, 3-0-0, won last year 1-0 at home

Game date vs. Arizona: Oct. 23 in Tucson, 7 p.m.

Prediction: This could be the sleeper team in the Pac-10. Upsetting USC at home is one thing, it'll be interesting to see how they do on the road.

Arizona State Sun Devils

Current record: 5-7-0, 1-1-0

Big wins/losses to date: lost to Texas A&M 3-1 in Madison, Wis., beat Stanford 2-1 in Stanford, Calif.

1997 record: 11-7-1 overall, 5-3-1 Pac-10

Coach: Terri Patraw (15-18-2 in two years)

Stars: Kristina Dawson F (4 goals, 1 assist), Stacey Tullock MF (19 total points)

Record vs. Arizona: ASU leads, 3-0-0, won last year 2-1 at Tucson

Game date vs. Arizona: Friday in Tempe, 6 p.m.

Prediction: The Sun Devils struggled for a while, but they bounced back and upset Stanford and pushed Cal to double overtime. Another potential sleeper team.

Oregon State Beavers

Current record: 5-5-1, 0-1-0

Big wins/losses to date: beat CS-Fullerton 4-1 in Fullerton, lost to Oregon 3-0 in Eugene

1997 record: 2-15-2 overall, 0-9 Pac-10

Coach: Steve Fennah, 1st year

Stars: Lindy Brown F (5 goals, 4 assists), Sunny Miller F (5 goals, 1 assist), Elizabeth Pease GK (1.26 GAA)

Record vs. Arizona: OSU leads, 2-1-0, lost last year in Tucson 2-0

Game date vs. Arizona: Nov. 1 in Corvallis

Prediction: The Beavers have gotten better, but Oregon exposed their inexperience on offense. Still, they could surprise a few teams down the road, especially at home.

Washington State Cougars

Current record: 3-7-2, 1-1-0

Big wins/losses to date: tied Denver 2-2 in Logan, Utah, lost at No. 2 Santa Clara 9-2

1997: 7-11 overall, 2-7 Pac-10

Coach: Dan Tobias, 1st year

Stars: Deka Dewitt F (9 goals)

Record vs. Arizona: WSU leads, 2-1-0, lost last year 1-0 at home

Game date vs. Arizona: Oct. 25 in Tucson, 1 p.m.

Prediction: Young team, new coach, no hope? Some, but not too much. The Cougars could pull an upset or two down the road, though, with Cal and Stanford coming to Pullman.

Kate Longworth can be reached via e-mail at Kate.Longworth@wildcat.arizona.edu.