STOCKTON, California – Goals by
Joelle Anderson and
Michelle Maemone in either half lifted the Pepperdine women's soccer team to its fifth consecutive victory and a 2-0 win at Pacific on Friday night in the West Coast Conference opener.
The Waves (6-5, 1-0) had a season-high 20 shots and limited the Tigers (2-8, 0-1) to just six.
Anderson (San Jose, Calif./Harker School) scored what turned out to be her fourth game-winner of the season in the 38th minute, while Maemone (San Jose, Calif./The King's Academy) notched her goal in the 63rd minute. The Waves had control for much of the game and the margin could have been greater, as Pepperdine hit the post three times.
GOALS
Pepperdine 38': A throw-in from the right side by senior defender
Hailey Harbison (Rancho Penasquitos, Calif./Westview HS) found the head of senior midfielder
Katy Byrne (Katy, Texas/Seven Lakes HS), who flicked it on to the middle of the box for the waiting Anderson. Anderson buried her left-footed shot for her team-high fourth goal of the season. All of her goals have been game-winners this season. It was the 13th goal of the sophomore's career.
Pepperdine 63': Maemone dribbled up the left side and worked a perfect give-and-go with freshman forward
Leyla McFarland (Bonita, Calif./Eastlake HS), who immediately sent the ball back in front of Maemone, who picked it up in the box and blasted a high and hard shot past the goalkeeper. It was the second goal of the senior defender's career, and the first since her freshman season.
STATS
Shots: Pepperdine 20, Pacific 6
Shots on Goal: Pepperdine 6, Pacific 4
Saves:
Brielle Preece (Pepperdine) 4, Regan Heslop (Pacific) 4
Corner Kicks: Pepperdine 6, Pacific 3
Fouls: Pepperdine 11, Pacific 7
Offside: Pepperdine 6, Pacific 0
QUOTABLE
Pepperdine Coach
Tim Ward said: "We got another one, which is great. The girls played really, really well. We're finding our form at the right time. Pacific did a really good job being organized and being tough to break down in the first half. The goal before halftime was really needed for sure. We talked about adjustments at halftime and executed very well the rest of the way, and our energy was awesome. What a great goal by Michelle. We were unlucky not to get a third or fourth, though the Pacific goalkeeper was excellent. We've got some good momentum and we're trying to keep it going. I'm really proud of everyone."
NOTABLE
- Senior goalkeeper Brielle Preece (Livermore, Calif./Granada HS) recorded her 19th career solo shutout, fourth all-time at Pepperdine.
- This was Pepperdine's fifth consecutive shutout and the Waves are working on a 456-minute shutout streak.
- Pepperdine improved to 10-0 all-time against Pacific (4-0 in road games) and this was the fifth consecutive shutout win against the Tigers.
NEXT
Pepperdine continues this opening weekend of WCC play at Saint Mary's on Sunday (Sept. 30) at 1 p.m. The game will be shown on TheW.tv.
