MALIBU, California – The Pepperdine women's soccer team's rough start to the 2018 season continued on Friday afternoon as the Waves suffered a 2-1 home loss to Indiana.
 
The Hoosiers (2-1-1) scored first in the 25th minute, though the Waves (1-4) equalized less than two minutes later. Indiana eventually got the game-winner in the 66th minute.
 
Pepperdine outshot Indiana 18-13 and both teams had tremendous chances to add to the scoreline. But the Waves are still trying to get their offense going, having scored just two goals in the first five games.
 
GOALS
 
Indiana 25': Mykayla Brown headed in Hanna Nemeth's free kick to put the Hoosiers in front.
 
Pepperdine 27': After a corner kick, the ball was played into the top of the box. Sandwiched by two defenders and falling to the ground, freshman forward Leyla McFarland (Bonita, Calif./Eastlake HS) was able to win the ball and poke it ahead. Sophomore forward Brie Welch (Arroyo Grande, Calif./Arroyo Grande HS) beat a couple of other defenders to the ball, sliding in from about 10 yards out and hitting it with power into the back of the net. It was Welch's first goal of the season and the fifth of her career.
 
Indiana 66': After a free kick, the Hoosiers' Annelie Leitner received the ball in the middle of the box. She turned and fired a low, hard shot that turned out to be the game-winner.
 
STATS
 
Shots: Pepperdine 18, Indiana 13
Shots on Goal: Pepperdine 5, Indiana 5
Saves: Brielle Preece (Pepperdine) 3, Bethany Kopel (Indiana) 4.
Corner Kicks: Pepperdine 5, Indiana 4
Fouls: Pepperdine 8, Indiana 10
Offside: Pepperdine 6, Indiana 1
 
NEXT
 
Pepperdine is off until next Friday (Sept. 7), when the Waves visit #2 UCLA at 7 p.m. The match will be televised by the Pac-12 Network. Then, the Waves are home again on the Sunday (Sept. 9) against St. John's at 1 p.m.