Paula Wilkins Quotations

I have asked Tiffany to take on even more responsibility this season. She has had to deal with more pressure and teams have been very physical with her, but she's been really good at creating space for other players.

I think we have more cohesion, more communication than last year. We've had 16 or 17 players see significant playing time, which is a lot for us.

We were very happy with how our team kept fighting during this game. The squad showed a lot of heart against a very dynamic UCLA team on their home field. Erin McLeod was spectacular for us in goal, but it was our total team effort that won us this victory tonight.

It's always nice to be recognized by the soccer community, and (the No. 1 ranking) is a credit to our program as well as this team. But we all know it's not where you are in the middle of the season, it's where you are at the end.

That's something you hear about forwards. Bigger. Faster. Stronger. That's not Tiffany. And that's not a slap on her. That's actually a compliment to her because she's different than all other forwards in the country. She's so technical and has the ability to elude people so well with her running and her ball skills. Tiffany will make you miss several times and embarrass you, which is a lot more fun to watch sometimes.

The biggest thing is we're finishing our chances. It was something we were worried about at the beginning of the season, but obviously in big games they've responded.

In the NCAA you need a bit of luck because there is so much parity. But I think we have the personnel, both athletically and technically, to really make something happen. If things fall into place, this could be our year.