MALIBU, Calif. – Pepperdine women’s soccer received complete efforts from its offense and defense in a 1-0 triumph over
Washington State Sunday afternoon at Tari Frahm Rokus Field.
The Waves fired 18 shots, including a goal from junior Sophia Medina (Downey, Calif./Los Alamitos HS), and allowed only five as they finished the weekend at 2-0 and improved their season mark to 3-3-1. Washington State dropped to 2-2-3 with the loss.
Medina’s goal, her first of the season, came in the 57th minute and was assisted by senior Amanda Rupp (Encinitas, Calif./La Costa Canyon HS) and junior Alexis Farler (Roseville, Calif./Granite Bay HS). Rupp came down the near sideline and dumped a left-footed cross inside the penalty area, where it was first touched by Farler before Medina stuffed it past WSU goalkeeper Lindsay Parlee.
Parlee came away with seven saves in defeat, but couldn’t get a hand on Medina’s bullet from point-blank range.
“That was a professional finish,” Pepperdine associate head coach Twila Kaufman said of Medina’s goal. “Rupp demonstrated will and tenacity in facing the goal, and got her cross over to our two forwards inside the box on the end of it.”
Rupp finished the match with four shots in an effort to stretch her consecutive goal-scoring streak to a fifth game. She didn’t get the goal, but she has provided at least one point over the last five contests.
Farler’s assist represented her first point of the season, and Medina’s goal was the ninth of her career.
Washington State scored three goals against Santa Barbara Friday, but had nothing left in the tank offensively against the Waves. The Cougars could only attempt three shots in the first half, and two in the second, both of which came late.
Pepperdine’s freshman goalkeeper Lacey Heck (Long Beach, Calif./Wilson HS) was only forced to make two saves in pitching her second-consecutive shutout and one of those was a punch out in the 88th minute.
“Our defensive backs have been requiring our center mids and forwards to place greater pressure on our opponents,” Kaufman said. “This has helped us solve a lot of problems before they become problems and they’re reading the game better as a result. They’re staying disciplined.”
Pepperdine hits the road next weekend for the first time all season, traveling to Wisconsin for matches with the Badgers and Marquette. The Waves kick off against Wisconsin Friday at 5 p.m. PT and vs. Marquette Sunday at 12:15 PT.
