After playing two games in two different states within 36 hours, the UCLA women’s soccer team was tired.

The last thing the No. 2 Bruins (14-1-3, 7-1-2 Pac-12) wanted Sunday was to play extra minutes.

But at the end of 90 minutes, UCLA was locked in a scoreless tie with Utah and forced to take the field for its fourth overtime game of the season.

“You just can’t think about it because if you do then it really starts to get to you,” sophomore midfielder Jenna Richmond said, speaking to the fatigue that affected the team during Sunday’s game.

“That is something we need to focus on, not getting discouraged and to just keep going.”

Going into Sunday’s game against the Utes, the Bruins had not yet scored in overtime, despite playing 60 total extra minutes.

So when senior forward Sydney Leroux found the back of the net in the 98th minute against Utah, UCLA was finally able to experience a new kind of victory, an exhilarating finish to an exhausting weekend.

“Mostly it was just a testament to their character,” coach B.J. Snow said. “I think that the girls’ attitude (Sunday) was that they were going to put a goal in during that first overtime and you could see it in their eyes.

“It was good for them to have their fourth overtime of the year and finally be able to celebrate.”

The Bruins’ first golden goal win of the season could not have come at a more appropriate time. With the NCAA Tournament just around the corner, extra minutes will become an issue more likely than not as the competition grows stiff.

“Especially with NCAAs coming up, overtime happens a lot so for us to be able to come together and find a way to win was awesome for us,” Leroux said.

Earning home field advantage

This weekend’s double victories bring UCLA one step closer to securing home field advantage for the initial rounds of the NCAA Tournament which starts Nov. 11.

The fact that winning meant staying at home was not lost on the Bruins this past weekend.

“Going into the game, we knew that a big win could hopefully let us stick to our home field for the next couple weeks so it was definitely very important to get the win,” freshman midfielder Sarah Killion said.

Showcasing depth

UCLA used 22 players during Friday’s 8-0 win against Colorado, with no Bruin playing the entire 90 minutes of the match.The depth of the team was apparent again Sunday, with Snow making sure to give players enough rest time to prevent fatigue from affecting UCLA’s performance.

“This is a new experience for us,” Snow said. “Going to Colorado, then having to fly to play Utah, and with both games at elevation, is tough on the girls.

“But I think this is where our depth plays to our advantage. All the girls had the opportunity to step in and make an impact on the game, which they did.”