MALIBU, California – A senior-heavy defense posted its 10th shutout of the season while sophomores did the work up front, and the Pepperdine women's soccer team closed out the regular season with a 2-0 home victory over San Diego in West Coast Conference play on Saturday afternoon.
After a pregame Senior Day ceremony, sophomores
Joelle Anderson and
Devyn Gilfoy scored first-half goals. The Waves ended the regular season with an 11-6-2 record – including a 10-1-2 mark in the last 13 matches – and third place in the WCC at 6-1-2, and they will now have to wait and hope that will be enough to earn them a spot in the NCAA Tournament.
All seven seniors –
Katy Byrne,
Hailey Harbison,
Meghan Healy,
Michelle Maemone,
Christina Settles and
Danielle Thomas – were in the starting lineup today.
The Waves outshot the Toreros (8-9-1, 4-5-0) by a total of 9-7.
GOALS
Pepperdine 6': Sophomore forward
Brie Welch (Arroyo Grande, Calif./Arroyo Grande HS) made a great run up the right side, skipping past one defender and getting into the box. Her cross into traffic was met by the foot of Anderson (San Jose, Calif./Harker School), and the sophomore forward poked it home for her team-high fifth goal of the season, and the 14th of her career.
Pepperdine 25': Anderson and sophomore forward
Devyn Gilfoy (Brentwood, Calif./Liberty HS) worked a give-and-go in the midfield, with Anderson poking the ball ahead. A USD defender got there first, but she didn't hit the ball hard enough as she attempted to play it back to the goalkeeper. Gilfoy – who had entered the game just seconds before – ran onto the ball, took two dribbles and slotted it past the keeper. It was Gilfoy's first goal of the season (and her first since missing a year of play due to a knee injury). She scored four goals as a freshman.
STATS
Shots: Pepperdine 9, San Diego 7
Shots on Goal: Pepperdine 5, San Diego 3
Saves:
Brielle Preece (Pepperdine) 3, Amber Michel (San Diego) 3
Corner Kicks: Pepperdine 6, San Diego 7
Fouls: Pepperdine 8, San Diego 1
Offside: Pepperdine 4, San Diego 0
QUOTABLE
Pepperdine Coach
Tim Ward said: "It's a big deal. We finished our last 13 games with 10 wins, one loss and two ties. We couldn't be more proud of this group after a rough start. I'm so proud of our response to that. In typical Waves fashion we showed a lot of character. I'm really grateful for this senior class. I'm praying the NCAA looks at what we've done in the last 13 games and deems us worthy to be in the field of 64. A special thank you to our senior class, just an amazing, talented, strong, resilient group of senior women. We love them, and whatever happens, we'll be ready."
NOTABLE
- The Waves closed the regular season with three straight shutouts. Senior goalkeeper Brielle Preece (Livermore, Calif./Granada HS) earned the 23rd of her career, which ranks fourth all-time at Pepperdine.
- Pepperdine finished with a 7-2-1 home record in 2018, the 26th time in 26 seasons that the Waves ended the year with a winning record at Tari Frahm Rokus Field.
- The Waves posted their third straight shutout win over San Diego and improved to 14-11-2 in the all-time series.
NEXT
The NCAA Tournament selection show is on Monday (Nov. 5) at 1:30 p.m. on NCAA.com.
