Pepperdine and Hawai'i Box Score (Sept. 13, 2009) 
Waves Pick Up 2-0 Win Over Hawai'i
September 13, 2009
Click on the above video for Tim Ward's postmatch comments.
Box Score
MALIBU, Calif. - Sophomore Michelle Spacciapolli (San Diego, Calif./Cathedral Catholic) scored her third goal of the season, senior Sophia Medina (Downey, Calif./Los Alamitos HS) chipped in her second, and the defense took care of the rest in Pepperdine's 2-0 victory over Hawai'i Sunday afternoon at Tari Frahm Rokus Field.
The Waves' third straight shutout lifted their record to 4-1 while the Rainbow Wahine dropped to 1-4-1. Pepperdine last blanked three consecutive opponents during the 2005 season, beating UNLV (1-0), Denver (4-0) and Utah (1-0) in late September.
"Overall I was very pleased with our performance," head coach Tim Ward said. "I felt we dictated the rhythm and tempo of the game and the possessions were great. We only had two goals but I know we could have had a few more. Defensively, it's nice to get another shutout, but we need to get a little sharper in front of goal on offense."
Pepperdine routinely developed quality looks inside its attacking third but could get only two of its season high 22 shots to rattle the cage. Three more hit the post while another was blocked by a defender.
Medina scored first for the Waves in the 33rd minute off a deflection and Spacciapolli added the insurance strike with 22 seconds remaining in the first half, following through on Kasey Kanada's (Tigard, Ore./Tigard HS) crossbar blast.
"Kasey's shot reminded me of what happened to us in the Kansas game and as the rebound was coming toward my direction I just stayed composed and hit the open target," Spacciapolli said. "I was really close so it wasn't too hard of a finish."
Medina's score from inside the goalmouth didn't require much effort either. Both she and Spacciapolli led all players with four shots.
"I forgot who took the shot, but their goalie blocked it and the ball deflected off one of my teammates," Medina said. "Tim says in practice just go to the back post because the ball always seems to go there and I just flicked it in."
Only seven of Pepperdine's 22 shots were off target as Rainbow Wahine goalkeeper Kristina Ehrett came through with nine saves. Pepperdine also fired off eight corner kicks to one for Hawai'i and were called for offsides on four occasions.
"The offense was clicking today and a lot of that had to do with what we worked on in practice this week," Spacciapolli said. "We made better runs today, the passes were on time and I think we're going to get better as we get more games under our belts. We're really working hard for each other."
Hawai'i was limited to an opponent season low of four shots, including one in the second half, and never received a good look at the net even though several of their attackers regularly made strides inside the 18-yard box. Ward specifically singled out Skye Shimabukuro, Ambree Ako and Mari Punzal as three difference makers who could have changed the game early in the second half.
"I don't know how many shots Hawai'i had today but those three were just outstanding and very dangerous," he said. "They exposed us in certain areas, which made me nervous early in the second half when there was a little shift in the momentum. We were looking at a whole new ball game if they scored during that lull."
Pepperdine, unbeaten at home this season at 3-0, hits the road Friday for a 3 p.m. match at Long Beach State, but will return home Sunday at 1 p.m. against Sacramento State.
