Moline's Musings

Illinois vs. UCLA Tonight

Posted by: Brian Moline

Friday, September 4, 2009 1:53 PM

The #9 UCLA Bruins come into Illinois Soccer Stadium tonight with a 1-1-1 record.  It's hard to know exactly how good any team is only three games into the season, but UCLA is especially difficult to figure out at this early point in the season.  The Bruins were dominated in a 7-2 loss at #1 North Carolina in their season opener.  The Tarheels are always one of the elite programs in the country, but anytime you give up seven goals, it certainly sends up a red flag.

A couple of things about that game should keep Illini fans from getting too overconfident.  First, UCLA was without starting goalkeeper Chante Sandiford, who has allowed just one goal (on a penalty kick) in two starts since the loss to UNC.  Second, the Tarheels returned most of their starters from last year's national championship team, while UCLA is adjusting without some key components on defense.  There's no question North Carolina was a much better team on that night, but I have a feeling the gap has already closed somewhat, and considering the talent UCLA has on its roster, it should continue to close throughout the season.

That's not to say that Illinois can't win this game.  Not at all.  The Illini have shown through the first three games that their offense is improved over last season.  The Orange and Blue has yet to be shut out in three games this season, after being shut out nine times in 2008.  In addition, the defense appears to once again be stout.  Illinois has allowed just two goals in its three matches so far. 

Will Illinois' young defense be able to slow down a UCLA attack that boasts players from the US National Team (Lauren Cheney) and the Canadian National Team (Kara Lang), plus a third player who is on the Hermann Trophy Watch List (Sydney Leroux)?  As Janet Rayfield told her team earlier this week, if the game comes down to one-on-one matchups between these players and Illini defenders, then UCLA has the advantage.  But, if the Illini defense stays well-organized, a team effort can keep the Bruin attack from exploding.

Transition situations will also be key.  Can the Illini keep the lightning quick Leroux from getting in behind them if the Orange and Blue loses possession in the midfield?  On the same token, can the Illini take advantage of a UCLA team that likes to push numbers forward?  These questions will likely go a long way toward determining the outcome of tonight's game.

I like Illinois' chances of putting a couple of goals on the scoreboard tonight.  Freshmen Niki Read and Shayla Mutz have injected some new energy into the Illini attack, which has taken the pressure off of veterans like Jordan Hilbrands, who already has more goals this season (3) than she had all of last year (2).

I do also think the Bruins will be able to put a couple into the back of the net.  Though Krystin Miller and Caitlin Dombart are rapidly improving on the back line, they have yet to face an offense as dangerous as the one UCLA brings tonight.  Therefore, I'll stick with the prediction I made when the schedule was first released earlier this summer:  Illinois 2 UCLA 2.

Be sure to tune in tonight for our broadcast on WDWS.  We'll bring you the game tape delayed immediately after St. Louis Cardinal baseball, which starts at 6 pm.  We expect to be on the air sometime around 9 pm.  If you're listening online, you'll hear us live at 7 pm at fightingillini.com.  Thanks for reading and listening.

bmoline@wdws.com

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