UCLA get first-round bye in NCAA women’s soccer tournament

2020 Pac-12 women’s soccer champion UCLA have unsurprisingly reached the NCAA Championship for the season and have a first-round bye in the tournament, scheduled to take place in North Carolina.

The No. 3 Bruins will face the winner of the Iowa-Campbell match that will take place Tuesday, with UCLA’s game scheduled for next Friday.

UCLA is coming off a stellar regular season, losing just one time en route to the Pac-12 season crown. Head coach Amanda Cromwell was named Pac-12 Coach of the Year for her work, and a slew of players received regular season honors. Delanie Sheehan was Pac-12 Midfielder of the Year, Lauren Brzykcy was Pac-12 Goalkeeper of the Year and Reilyn Turner was Pac-12 Freshman of the Year.

In addition to Sheehan, Brzykcy and Turner on the All-Pac-12 First Team, Mia Fishel and Karina Rodriguez also received that honor, while Marley Canales was named to the All-Pac-12 Second Team. Three Bruins were named to the All-Freshman Team: Turner, Sunshine Fontes and Kaila Novak.

Needless to say, expectations are high for the Bruins heading into the NCAA Tournament. With this year’s field the national champion will need to win five games if they get a first-round bye, and UCLA hope they can do just that this season. Best of luck to Cromwell’s team as they prepare for what’s hopefully a deep run.