ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥

“By the time I graduate, I want to get more than 20� in a season, Talley said. “I mean, I’m only on my second year but I feel like, last year, one (goal) was really bad … it’s kind of embarrassing because I know what I’m capable of.�

Talley and her team-high five goals will lead the UA into Friday’s Pac-12 opener at top-ranked Stanford. Talley said the key to her success this year has been her mentality — the forward is more positive and aggressive than she was as a freshman.

“It’s a learning experience, you could say,� said Talley, who came to the UA from Corona, California. “I’m leading my team right now and we haven’t even gone into Pac-12 Conference play yet, so consistency is going to be really big for me.�

Talley’s lone 2017 goal was a big one. She came off the bench to score the game’s only goal in ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥â€™s 1-0 win over No. 11 Cal last Oct. 1 in Berkeley. Talley said the scoring strike made her realize her potential. Although Talley didn’t score again the rest of the season, she came back stronger as a sophomore.

“I just go in knowing what’s expected of me now, and I know what role I play on the team so I just go out there ready to perform,� Talley said. “I know I can do it, I know what it takes, I know what I’m capable of.�

The 5-foot-9-inch powerhouse attributes her success to being fast and getting to the ball every chance she gets, which is something coach Tony Amato emphasizes in practice. ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ is outscoring its opponents 21-3 so far this season, and is outshooting them 163-45.

Talley and forward Jill Aguilera (two goals, three assists in 2018) will need to step up against the Cardinal. The Wildcats watched a lot of tape against Stanford leading up to Friday’s match. Between film and their own scouting reports — Talley and Aguilera grew up playing club soccer against many of Stanford’s players — ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ has an idea of what it needs to do to win.

“We don’t want to get spooked just because of their name,� said Aguilera, who grew up in Redwood City, just a few miles from Stanford. “We can’t accept the loss before we even play the game.�

Stanford is the defending national champion, and was an overwhelming preseason pick to win the Pac-12. ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥, which made it to the second round of the NCAA Tournament last season , was picked to finish sixth in the league. A win Friday — against the nation’s No. 1 team on the road — could change everything.

“People underestimate us because we’re not USC, UCLA, Stanford,� Talley said.

“But people should watch out for us.�