At first glance, it's easy to overlook UCLA senior midfielder Christina DiMartino.

After all, she is only 5-foot-2. And it doesn't help that she's soft-spoken upon first meeting, or that she plays the often thankless role of incorporating her teammates to the detriment of her own statistics.

But look again.

Watch the way she penetrates the opposing defense with her quickness and ignites her fellow Bruins. Notice her barking out encouragement to her younger teammates. Catch her after practice, and you might be surprised to see her breaking up a room with a perfectly timed joke.

To the Pac-10's trained eye, all of DiMartino's subtleties has added up to her being recognized as the Pac-10 Player of the Year. She was also named to the TopDrawerSoccer.com Team of the Season. 

She is a hidden gem no more.

"I was completely shocked," DiMartino said. "As a midfielder you're not the goal scorer, and there are so many great players in the Pac-10 to choose from. It's an honor and I appreciate them recognizing me."

Humility aside, the senior playmaker has plenty to boast about. She's the engine that's driven UCLA (20-0-2) to its first undefeated season in the program's history. The second-ranked Bruins have rolled through the first two rounds of the NCAA tournament and have perhaps their best chance to claim their first-ever National title.

DiMartino's modest season totals of five goals and six assists do little to illustrate her impact on a game.

"She's our playmaker," said teammate Kristina Larsen, who tied for the team lead with 10 goals during the regular season. "She deserves whatever she gets. She takes control of the game with so much talent and skill."

And with such a great sense for timing.

In perhaps the most dramatic moment of the season thus far for the Bruins, DiMartino drilled a game-winner from 35 yards out to help UCLA slay Stanford 1-0 in a thriller on Oct. 31.

The clutch play kept the Bruins' unblemished record intact and further established UCLA as one of the top teams in the country.
 
DiMartino has started in virtually every UCLA match that's been played since she arrived as a freshman from Massapequa, New York, four years ago.

She's been through every major Bruins' battle in recent history – the pair of NCAA semifinals losses the past two seasons, and the defeat in the championship game in 2005.

She's seemingly been around so long that her longevity works against her. DiMartino is so interwoven into the fabric of UCLA soccer that sometimes it's difficult for her to stand out.

"She's such a special player and she does things that people don't always pay attention to," said UCLA coach Jillian Ellis. "She's been so good for so long, it's nice to see her get that recognition."

And if the Bruins have their way they'll be recognized as the best team in the country next month.

"Right now we're just excited to be here," DiMartino said. "I try not to think about this being my last year with the team, and hopefully it lasts as long as possible. Right now, I'm just here to enjoy the journey."

And collect on the recognition she's owed.