MALIBU, California – A penalty-kick stop by
Brielle Preece, a super-sub goal by
Meghan Healy and a tremendous defensive performance added up to a 1-0 West Coast Conference victory by the Pepperdine women's soccer team over fourth-ranked Santa Clara on Sunday, the Waves' 10th consecutive home victory over the Broncos.
Since 1999, Santa Clara's last win at Tari Frahm Rokus Field, the Waves (7-6-1, 2-1-1) have found a way to get the job done in Malibu against the Broncos (11-2-1, 2-1-0), and today Pepperdine also ended Santa Clara's eight-game unbeaten streak.
It was an extremely physical game that saw a total of 30 fouls and six yellow cards (five on the Waves). One of those yellows came in the 40th minute, when a Santa Clara player went down in the box and a penalty kick was awarded.
Preece (Livermore, Calif./Granada HS) was up to the task, diving to her right to stop Kelcie Hedge's attempt, and then sprawling out to gather the ball in on a rebound effort.
That gave the Waves some momentum and they scored in the 44th minute. Healy (Brighton, Mich./Brighton HS) entered the game in the 39th minute and was making only her third appearance of the season, but the senior forward's first-ever goal was the difference.
Santa Clara outshot Pepperdine 13-6, including 8-3 in the second half, but the Waves' defense was up to the task and recorded its seventh shutout of the season.
GOALS
Pepperdine 44': Sophomore forward
Joelle Anderson (San Jose, Calif./Harker School) sent in a ball that took a fortunate deflection off a Santa Clara defender and over to Healy on the left side. After one touch, Healy lofted a quick shot over the SCU goalkeeper's head for her first career goal (on only her second career shot).
STATS
Shots: Pepperdine 6, Santa Clara 13
Shots on Goal: Pepperdine 4, Santa Clara 4
Saves:
Brielle Preece (Pepperdine) 4, Melissa Lowder (Santa Clara) 3
Corner Kicks: Pepperdine 1, Santa Clara 5
Fouls: Pepperdine 12, Santa Clara 18
Offside: Pepperdine 5, Santa Clara 4
QUOTABLE
Pepperdine Coach
Tim Ward said: "Santa Clara is one of the better teams in the country so it's a great win for us. I think we've been playing really well, the last eight games we've only conceded two goals. We weren't ready in the start of the season but we're ready now. We played some good soccer and I'm really proud of our women. Shout-out to two seniors --
Brielle Preece with an amazing penalty save, that changed the momentum of the game, and then
Meghan Healy who's been through so much, what a goal and what a time to get it. It meant the world to her and to the team. In the second half we did what great Pepperdine teams do, we stayed the course and found a way to get it done."
NOTABLE
- Preece had her sixth solo shutout of the season and the 20th of her career, which ranks fourth all-time at Pepperdine.
- Last season, the Waves earned their first-ever win at Santa Clara. That was the first time since 1999 that the home team didn't win in this series (the home team is now 18-1 since 2000). The Waves have won three straight overall in the series and now trail 14-11-0.
NEXT
Pepperdine continues its four-game homestand next Saturday (Oct. 13) against BYU at 1 p.m. The game will be shown on TheW.tv.
