TITLE QUEST MORE IMPORTANT THAN REST WELL-TRAVELED STRIKER LEADS UCLA INTO SEMIFINAL GAME.

Byline: Ramona Shelburne  Staff Writer

In a few days, Iris Mora can rest. Not that she's in any hurry with UCLA playing in its second consecutive women's soccer College Cup. But UCLA's junior striker hasn't stopped playing soccer for almost a year.

A member of the Mexican national team, Mora went straight from last year's women's soccer College Cup in North Carolina to Olympic qualifying with her home country, then to the Summer Games in Athens, Greece. After a week or two at home in Cancun, she was back at UCLA for another college season.

Today, Mora will lead the 14th-seeded Bruins against seventh-seeded Princeton (19-2) in the semifinals of the NCAA tournament at 11 a.m. in Cary, N.C. Princeton is the first Ivy League team to qualify for the women's College Cup. But despite its school-record 19 victories, the Tigers are a much less intimidating semifinal opponent than North Carolina was last season.

A victory would put UCLA (17-6) in the national championship game Sunday for the second time since 2000. They would play against either Santa Clara or Notre Dame.

As much as Mora wants to get home and see her family and unpack her suitcase, she's not in any hurry.

``This is my life, playing soccer all over the world, staying in hotels, eating different kinds of foods. I love it,'' she said. ``I miss my family, but there is always time to see them. I will be home for a month after this.''

In three years at UCLA, Mora's family has only seen her play in person once, last season against San Diego. They will be watching the Bruins today on ESPN2, but don't plan to attend another game to see her play until next season when she is a senior.

Although Mora wishes she could see her family more often, she has become used to the situation. She has been on the Mexican national team and away from home since she was 15.

``The thing about Iris is that she's been away from home since she was 15 so she's very mature,'' UCLA coach Jillian Ellis said. ``It's almost like she's 22 going on 35. She's a very special young lady.''

But when Mora first came to UCLA in 2002, it wasn't easy. She spoke a little bit of English, but had to work hard to study at a college level. On the field, the game was different too.

Mora is a flashy player, who grew up playing against boys and watching Mexican and Brazilian soccer, which is known as much for its panache as its international success. Needless to say, it took some adjustment to fit Mora's creative style into the more structured college game in the United States.

As a freshman, she showed flashes of brilliance, but struggled to fit into her team's style of play. Then last year, as a sophomore, she blossomed, scoring 13 goals with 14 assists. This year, her statistics are down (four goals, eight assists) but Ellis said she might be even more valuable to the Bruins because her game is so complete.

That development on the soccer field has coincided with her growing comfort level at UCLA. She speaks fluent English now, has a large group of friends and is well-respected by her teammates.

``They are my family now,'' Mora said. ``I love my coach and my teammates. I'm very comfortable here now. ... I came (to UCLA) because I wanted to see something different than I'd grown up with and to have new experiences.''

In Mexico, Mora found only dirt soccer fields and boys' leagues. Although she is only 5-foot-2, she was competitive with boys her age.

In the United States, soccer is the biggest participatory sport in the country among young girls and the numbers continue to grow.

This weekend, Mora and UCLA will try to follow the men's national championship last year with one of their own.

Dave Shelburne, [phone]

dave.shelburne(at)dailynews.com

CAPTION(S):

photo, box

Photo:

Bruins standout striker Iris Mora brings international experience from her native Mexico to UCLA's College Cup pursuit.

Photo provided by UCLA

Box:

UCLA vs. PRINCETON

- Ramona Shelburne