Waves Drop WCC Opener to LMU, 1-0, in OT

LOS ANGELES, Calif. Â Pepperdine dropped its West Coast Conference opener Saturday afternoon at Loyola Marymount, 1-0, on a goal by Kelley Lawson with 3:15 left in the first overtime. 

The game-winner originated on a deep throw-in from Marissa Zamora that first found Lily Sorentino before she threaded the ball through the 18-yard box and over to Lawson.

Lawson’s kick just missed the outstretched arm of Pepperdine goalkeeper Kayla Stolte (Santee, Calif./West Hills HS).

Pepperdine’s loss dropped its record to 5-7-2, 0-1 WCC; while LMU improved to 6-4-3 and 1-0 in the WCC.

It was a tough loss for the Waves considering they led all statistical categories except for the one that mattered most. The Blue and Orange outshot the Lions, 22-8, and took eight corner kicks to LMU’s four.

Minutes before the match was decided, Pepperdine had a chance to score but defender Myriah Stockman’s (Sandy, Utah, Brighton HS) point-blank attempt was stopped by LMU keeper Alyssa Clark at the back post. Stockman got a toe on the ball despite being covered by two Lion defenders inside the six-yard box.

Also in the first overtime, each team had a shot sailed inches above the crossbar and defender Kelsey Baker (Honolulu, Hawai’i/Punahou School) headed out a cross.

 

Pepperdine controlled most of the first-half play, outshooting LMU, 10-3; however, with a cool and consistent gust coming off the ocean, many of its shots either sailed high or wide. The goalkeepers combined to make one save, as Amanda Rupp (Encinitas, Calif./La Costa Canyon) was the lone player to place a shot on goal.

Each side recorded three corner kicks in the first half but few scoring chances originated from these bonus opportunities. Defender Cammie Burke (Del Mar, Calif./Torrey Pines HS) came closest to scoring, but her header from the back post popped over the crossbar.

The second half played a lot like the first with the Waves continuing to dominate most statistical categories with no results to show for their efforts.

Pepperdine outshot LMU in the second frame, 8-3.

Rupp had a shot from inside the six squeezed by a defender that ended up in Clark’s gut. Inside the 70^th minute, a free kick taken by Ashley Copp (Coronado, Calif./Coronado HS) atop the 18-yard box was partially blocked and took a Pepperdine bounce, but no Waves were in position for a follow-up shot.

Defensively, the Waves remained solid in the second half, with Haleigh Guertin (Coronado, Calif./Santiago HS) clearing a few shots from inside the six and Stotle catching a tricky header that was redirected inside the goalmouth by Lacey Bartels.

Pepperdine continues its conference road trip next weekend with matches at Gonzaga (Oct. 17) and #3 Portland (Oct. 19).

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