Bruins seek strong finish in College Cup

The words of consolation only fueled Erin Hardy’s frustration.

Each year of the UCLA senior’s college career, the Bruins have advanced to the College Cup -- soccer’s version of the Final Four -- and each year they have lost.

“People have gone up to us and said, ‘At least you got there,’ ” said Hardy, a defender. “Looking back, we say, ‘At least we got there, but it would be nice if we won out.’ ”

UCLA’s streak of getting there stretches beyond Hardy’s years. The Bruins, who open against North Carolina today at 4 p.m. PST in Cary, N.C., are playing in their sixth consecutive College Cup, still looking for that first national title.

Any loss this time will be a first. UCLA is 22-0-2 this season. North Carolina, which needed double overtime to defeat Texas A&M; in a quarterfinal, is 23-1-2. Notre Dame will play Stanford at 1:30 PST in the other semifinal.

UCLA’s seven seniors have all experienced the bitterness of the last three College Cup losses -- 2-1 to USC in a 2007 semifinal and shutout losses to Notre Dame and Portland in 2006 and 2005. Before that, there was a loss to Notre Dame on penalty kicks in the 2004 final and a 3-0 loss to North Carolina in 2003.

“It’s a little disappointing, we’d play so well throughout the season and then we’d come and not get the results we wanted,” senior midfielder Christina DiMartino said.

Members of the senior class said they’re taking personal responsibility for the Bruins’ taking home a title this season. Hardy and DiMartino said seniors have placed extra emphasis on embracing the underclassmen by including them in activities such as shopping and movie trips, pasta parties and painting each other’s nails.

UCLA Coach Jillian Ellis laughed about those type of bonding activities, but she has enjoyed the results.

Led by senior Ashley Thompson, the Bruins have given up only five goals in 24 games. Ellis has been impressed with her team’s balance in its last two games, victories over Duke and USC.

However, she has also reminded her players of the past, even showing them video of the loss to North Carolina in 2003.

Then she offered her players a suggestion she believes could put the team’s frustration forever in the past.

“I’m a firm believer in visualizing us winning,” she said.

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