Portland stops UCLA offensive charge, 4-0

Portland finished the 2005 season undefeated with a 4-0 victory over UCLA in the December 4 Women's College Cup final. It's the second title for the Pilots in three years. The team last won the championship with a 2-1 victory over Santa Clara in 2002.

Texas A&M hosted the semifinals and final at Aggie Soccer Stadium in College Station, Texas.

Ironically, UCLA had been accustomed to shutting out opponents. The Bruins had blanked 17 of their previous 19 foes in NCAA tournament play. And this year alone, UCLA had allowed but eight goals. In fact, the Bruins had not allowed an opponent to score in the last 452 minutes of play.

The Pilots attacked all of those streaks. Senior Christine Sinclair scored two of Portland's goals and finished her career as the NCAA tournament's all-time goal scorer with 25. The Pilots' Angie Woznuk and redshirt freshman Angie Rapinoe added the other two scores for Portland.

Woznuk struck first, just 92 seconds into the game -- the fastest goal for the Pilots this season. Sinclair, who hadn't scored in three games, found the net in the 22nd minute and again in the 41st. Rapinoe's goal came with 13:38 left to play in the game.

The victory over the Bruins is a first for Portland, which lost all three previous matches against UCLA. Portland finished the game with a 13-12 shot advantage.

The dominating performance of the Pilots was in stark contrast to the 2004 championship game, in which UCLA lost to Notre Dame on penalty kicks. The victory was the second national title for Portland.

Portland is the only team other than North Carolina to finish an unbeaten season with a championship. Ten of North Carolina's 17 championships came off unbeaten seasons. The Tar Heels were knocked out of the 2005 tournament in the quarterfinals by Florida State. UCLA defeated Florida State in the semifinals, 4-0. Sinclair and Portland goalkeeper Cori Alexander were named most outstanding offensive and defensive players of the tournament, respectively. Teammates Rapinoe, Woznuk, Stephanie Lopez and Lindsey Huie joined them on the all-tournament team. UCLA's Jill Oakes, Danesha Adams and Iris Mora also were selected, as were Erin McLeod of Penn State and India Trotter of Florida State.

Portland Coach Garrett Smith dedicated the team's second championship to women's soccer program founder Clive Charles, who died of cancer in 2003.

"What do you say after a game like that?" Smith said. "This program was built on a great foundation, and this team just showed that to the whole country. It's built out of a lot of class, a lot of talent and a lot of hard work, and a foundation that will always be with us."

UCLA Coach Jill Ellis credited Portland's players for putting the pressure on her team early in the game.

"They did a great job of capitalizing on our mistakes. That certainly put us behind the eight ball," she said. "My heart and soul is with my team. I'll try to console them and remind them of the things they've done this season and the successes they've had."

Semifinals

First half: UCLA -- Christina DiMartino (unassisted) 38:08; UCLA -- Danesha Adams (Iris Mora) 42:49.

Second half: UCLA -- DiMartino (McCall Zerboni) 58:35; UCLA -- Kara Lang (Stephanie Kron) 77:44.

Shots: UCLA 20, Florida St. 9. Saves: UCLA (Valerie Henderson) 2, Florida St. (Ali Mims) 3. Corner kicks: UCLA 3, Florida St. 1.

Overtime: Portland advances on penalty kicks, 4-3.

Shots: Portland 20, Penn St. 12. Saves: Portland (Cori Alexander) 7, Penn St. (Erin McLeod) 10. Corner kicks: Portland 10, Penn St. 7.

Championship game

First half: P -- Angie Woznuk (Megan Rapinoe) 1:32; P -- Christine Sinclair (Woznuk) 21:21; P -- Sinclair (Natalie Budge) 41:03.

Second half: P -- Rapinoe (Woznuk) 76:13.

Shots: Portland 13, UCLA 12. Saves: Portland (Cori Alexander) 3, UCLA (Valerie Henderson) 1. Corner kicks: Portland 3, UCLA 5.