UCLA Loses to BYU in Second Round, 2-0

There was no shortage of scoring opportunities for the UCLA women’s soccer team against Brigham Young on Saturday.

The Bruins outshot the Cougars, 17-13, but couldn’t get a shot past goalkeeper Jennifer Waldren, and fell to BYU, 2-0, in the second round of the NCAA tournament at UCLA’s North Athletic Field.

“We didn’t finish,” UCLA forward Venus James said. “We were just unlucky.”

With BYU (20-4-0) leading 1-0, Waldren made a save on James from point-blank range in the 62nd minute. She stopped Lauren Emblem’s shot on a spinning kick from eight yards out minutes later.

But the biggest saves weren’t made by Waldren.

In the 52nd minute, James’ header off a corner kick looked like it was going in until forward Karen Robbins made the save with her body. She then turned away Tracey Milburn’s rebound.

Shauna Rohbock rewarded Waldren and Robbins’ efforts, scoring in the 77th minute after catching UCLA goalkeeper Lindsay Culp too far out of the net.

“I’d rather have the keeper come out every time than stay in the goal,” Rohbock said. “[Culp] went down and I had an open shot.”

Rohbock’s goal clinched the victory, but the first goal by Sarah Higham was the one people were talking about after the game.

From a sharp angle at the right sideline about 20 yards out, she beat Culp in the 23rd minute on what she said was her best shot.

UCLA Coach Todd Saldana agreed.

“The first 60 minutes we played a lot of soccer, but that first goal was a career shot,” said Saldana, whose team finished 17-4-1.