LOS ANGELES, California – The Pepperdine women's soccer team put up a game effort at UCLA on Friday evening, but the seventh-ranked Bruins had too much in a 3-0 defeat.
The Waves (1-5) were outshot 16-6 by the Bruins (3-1-1), last season's national runner-up. UCLA got one goal early in the first half and added two more in the second. The Waves had a couple of decent chances and maintained possession for some long stretches, but couldn't solve the Bruins' final third.
Four of the Waves' five losses this season have come against teams currently ranked in the nation's top 25.
GOALS
UCLA 5': The Bruins' Anika Rodriguez got a step on the defense as she ran down the middle of the box, received the ball and scored an early goal.
UCLA 58': UCLA's Ashley Sanchez did a nice job dribbling through the middle of the field, then fed a through ball down the right side for Maricarmen Reyes, who shot across the box and found the inside of the left post.
UCLA 84': On a counterattack, Rodriguez set up Sanchez for the third and final goal.
STATS
Shots: Pepperdine 6, UCLA 16
Shots on Goal: Pepperdine 2, UCLA 9
Saves:
Brielle Preece (Pepperdine) 6, Lauren Brzykcy (UCLA) 0, Teagan Micah (UCLA) 3.
Corner Kicks: Pepperdine 2, UCLA 4
Fouls: Pepperdine 10, UCLA 6
Offside: Pepperdine 1, UCLA 5
QUOTABLE
Pepperdine Coach
Tim Ward said: "I actually thought our performance, by and large, was pretty good. It was the second time this year we gave away a goal in the first five minutes, and it's tough against a team of the quality when you're playing in a hole. After that, we settled in and created a couple of moments. We didn't roll over, we kept fighting. I'm proud of our performance, though I don't like the result. We have to keep believing. We've played one of the toughest schedules in the country, we've taken some lumps, but I'm excited about the steps we're taking forward and I'm proud of the girls."
NEXT
Pepperdine returns home to host St. John's on Sunday (Sept. 9) at 1 p.m. at Tari Frahm Rokus Field. Fans can watch the game on TheW.tv.
