Every penalty kick brings nerves.
But a penalty kick in the 89th minute comes with the added burden that it could be the team’s last opportunity on net.
This is the pressure cooker junior forward Kara Croone stepped into when she reached the penalty mark Friday night.
“I’ve been doing a lot of mental preparation,” Croone said. “So I just took deep breaths and knew that I could do it with the preparation that I’ve been doing in practice.”
The preparation paid off for Croone, who drilled the ball into the left corner of the net to vault No. 10 UCLA women’s soccer (8-3-1, 5-1-0 Big Ten) to a 1-0 win over Oregon (6-4-2, 1-4-1 ) at Papé Field in Eugene.
It was the second time in as many matches that the Bruins have earned a win off late-game goals. On Friday, UCLA’s offensive attack continued through the dying minutes of the game. A chance to distance themselves as leaders in the Big Ten rankings was up for grabs – but only if the Bruins earned the three points given for a win.
Croone drew a foul in the box in the 88th minute when, battling to get a shot off, she went down amid a scrum of defenders. After video review, the Brookhaven, Georgia, local was awarded a free kick, and coach Gof Boyoko elected that she take it.
“It was nerve-wracking,” said freshman midfielder Mia Corona. “But once we knew it was a PK and we knew Kara was going to take it, we all were like, ‘Okay, this is gonna be a goal.’”
Sophomore goalkeeper Daphne Nakfoor gives instructions to her teammates on the team. Nakfoor recorded her fourth consecutive clean sheet Friday. (Chenrui Zhang/Daily Bruin staff)
UCLA’s offensive depth was on display Friday and manifested in the nine shots on goal it took off the feet of five different players. Sophomore midfielder Grace Shank led the way with a team-high six shots, two which were on frame, while sophomore forward Leena Powell kept three of her four shots on goal.
Among the additional seven players recording at least one shot in the night was Corona, who was making her collegiate debut. Corona sat out the first part of the season due to injury, but that proved moot when she played her first minutes as a Bruin.
In just 29 minutes on the field, Corona rattled off two shots, including a ground ball in the 81st minute that was just wide of the left post.
“The subs and everyone who doesn’t start raises the level each time they step on the field,” Croone said. “We have some younger players that come in and show their creativity on and off the ball, for instance, Mia Corona, first game back, almost scored – it was like two centimeters away from going in.”
Corona’s time donning the blue and gold will be cut short just as it begins. The freshman departs for the U17 World Cup before Thursday’s home game but said she hopes to see action with UCLA again in the postseason.
“It’s been a big difference coming from club to college,” Corona said. “There’s such high standards, and … day in and day out, we keep those high standards. … I’m one of the youngest people on the team, and everyone here is just like a big sister to me.”
Senior forward Oruha Hayashi (left) and Croone (right) celebrate after a goal. (Elle Smith/Daily Bruin staff)
Despite being outshot 21-7, the Ducks almost got on the scoreboard first. Oregon midfielder Maddie Sharrer lifted a shot from just outside the 18-yard box in the 85th minute, sending it forcefully to the upper right corner of the net.
Sophomore goalkeeper Daphne Nakfoor launched off the ground to tip the ball over the crossbar before falling to the grass as she came down from the diving effort.
“Their goalkeeper had one of the best saves I’ve ever seen from a collegiate goalkeeper,” said Oregon coach Tracy Joyner to Oregon Athletics.
Friday marked the Bruins’ fourth-consecutive shutout victory. UCLA has lost just one Big Ten match – to then-No. 5 Michigan State – since conference play began Sept. 10 and has conceded just two goals across the same time frame.
UCLA brings this momentum to a series of three games at home commencing Thursday.
“These next two weeks are crucial for the title race,” Boyoko said. “If we can find a way to get the nine points, I think we’re going to be in a good spot to clinch the following week on the road.”