<p>In a season paved with hardships and difficulties, the UCLA women?s soccer team stepped up once again and punched its ticket to its fourth consecutive Final Four. <br/>After suffering season-ending injuries to two starters and having to shuffle lineups repeatedly early in the year, the question was whether or not the Bruins would be able to find their form in time to make another deep postseason run. <br/>The answer has been a resounding yes. <br/>Even though the Bruins faced an early deficit for the second consecutive game, UCLA (21-3) was able to come back once again, this time defeating defending national champion Portland (17-4-3) 2-1 on Friday night in a rematch of last season?s championship game. <br/><div class=fright><font color=blue><b>TOURNAMENT BRACKET</b></font><hr><font size=1><a href=http://www.ncaasports.com/soccer/womens/brackets/viewable/straight64_dyn/2006/DI>Click here to see the official NCAA<br>College Cup bracket for Women's Soccer.</font></a></div>?(My players) wanted it bad; you could tell,? coach Jill Ellis said. ?I thought we did a good job of scouting (Portland) and knowing their strengths, and obviously we were fortunate to get a couple of goals. I?m super pleased with the players? effort and that we?re advancing.? <br/>Even though the Bruins had lost both Kara Lang and Mary Castelanelli to ACL injuries, the team was determined to not let this year end in a repeat of last season?s 4-0 loss to the Pilots in the finals. <br/>Portland, having won nine consecutive postseason matches coming into Friday?s game, got off to a quick start, scoring just five minutes into the match. <br/>Rachael Rapinoe stepped up and bent a free kick just past Bruin goalkeeper Valerie Henderson to notch a goal on Portland?s only shot of the first half, to give the Pilots a 1-0 lead. <br/>The lead was very short-lived, however. The Bruins struck back just three minutes later, when McCall Zerboni knocked in a corner kick delivered by Danesha Adams to knot the game at one. <br/>?I?m starting to think it?s my kids? game plan (to play from behind), because they?ve done it quite a few times,? Ellis said. ?At halftime I said to my team I thought we had the better of the play, and we?ll be rewarded at some point. It?s not part of the plan, but giving up an early goal just drives them a little bit more.? <br/>The Bruins were dominating midfield and seemed to be in control of the game, yet both teams had missed golden opportunities for goals early in the second half, with Adams and Portland freshman Kendra Chandhoke both failing to convert one-on-one chances. <br/>UCLA?s pressure finally paid off in the 70th minute, when sophomore Christina DiMartino broke free and was judged to be taken down by Portland goalkeeper Cori Alexander, drawing a penalty kick. <br/>Freshman Lauren Cheney stepped up and beat Alexander to the left post, scoring her 19th goal of the year to give the Bruins a 2-1 lead they would not relinquish. <br/>?I think it was a just call,? Ellis said. ?A player like Christina should take those opportunities and at some point it?s going to pay off.? <br/>DiMartino agreed with her coach, and was proud of her team?s ability to fight back despite facing an early deficit. <br/>?It just shows how much heart we have and how much desire,? DiMartino said. ?We totally wanted this game, to show (Portland) that last year was a fluke. We can play with them, we?re just as good, and we came out and showed everyone we?re ready for the Final Four.? <br/>Perhaps the key to the match was the control UCLA maintained in the midfield, limiting Portland All-American Angie Woznuk. The youthful Bruin backline was also able to shut off many scoring opportunities, limiting Portland to only four shots in the game. <br/>?It was definitely hard to keep possession in the final third, because (UCLA) had a lot of numbers on us,? Rapinoe said. ?I felt like I was being double-teamed the whole game.? <br/>In beating Portland, UCLA was able to exact revenge for last season?s loss and will get a chance to win the school?s 100th overall NCAA title. <br/>?We didn?t want to lose twice (to Portland),? senior Stacy Lindstrom said. ?We focused a lot on staying tough, always following our players. We learned from our mistakes in the finals. I?m proud of my teammates.?</p> <p><b>PENALTY KICKS:</b> UCLA outshot Portland 17-4 overall. ... UCLA will now face 18-time national champion North Carolina in Cary, N.C. while seeking to win UCLA women?s soccer?s first national title. ... Cary is only 20 miles from Chapel Hill, home of the Tar Heels. ...The semifinal match will be televised on ESPN2 on Friday at 12:30 p.m. ... Notre Dame and Florida State will face off in the other semifinal, which will be televised on ESPNU. ... UCLA and Florida State are the only returning participants from last year?s College Cup. ... The Bruins are the only team that has appeared in the previous four Final Fours. This will be UCLA?s fifth appearance overall.</p><br><br><a href='; target='_blank'>;