MALIBU, California – The Pepperdine women's soccer team finally made its return to play on Sunday, taking the field for the first time since November 2019, but unfortunately suffered a 3-0 home defeat to UCLA.
 
The Bruins (1-0-0) scored three first-half goals. And although the Waves (0-1-0) came back with an impressive second half and ended up outshooting UCLA, 13-10, they couldn't unlock the Bruin defense.
 
The Waves made UCLA goalkeeper Lauren Byzykcy earn her shutout with seven shots on goal and in particular on a couple of late chances, as she made a diving save on a nice shot by sophomore midfielder Carlee Giammona (Las Vegas, Nev./Palo Verde HS/Alabama) in the 66th minute, and later stopped senior defender Erin Sinai (Carlsbad, Calif./Carlsbad HS) on a 1v1 in the 88th minute.
 
GOALS
 
UCLA 8': The Bruins' Marley Canales put in a free kick from near midfield, and Reilyn Turner got a head on it twice in the box, the second time flicking it backward to Mia Fishel, who turned and scored from about 10 yards out.
 
UCLA 22': Canales sent the ball forward and into the box for Turner, who one-touched it past the keeper for a 2-0 lead.
 
UCLA 30': Canales recorded her third assist when she put in a corner kick from the right side. It went through the box to the far side, where it was met by Jacey Pederson. Her one-timer went across the goal, hit off the right post, and in.
 
STATS
 
Shots: Pepperdine 13, UCLA 10
Shots on Goal: Pepperdine 7, UCLA 4
Saves: Kinsey Ehmann (Pepperdine) 1, Zoe Clevely (Pepperdine) 0, Lauren Brzykcy (UCLA) 7
Corner Kicks: Pepperdine 6, UCLA 2
Fouls: Pepperdine 6, UCLA 7
Offside: Pepperdine 1, UCLA 2
 
QUOTABLE
 
Pepperdine Coach Tim Ward said: "I didn't think the score really was indicative of the quality of our play today. I thought we played pretty well ... We were a little disappointed with every goal we conceded today. But take nothing away from them, UCLA is a good team. On our part, I thought there were some neat sequences, there were really special moments of individual play and combinations and getting into dangerous and good scoring positions, but we just didn't finish today."
 
NOTABLE

• Nine Waves made their debuts, including six true freshmen. Giammona was joined by freshmen Alex Sampson (Phoenix, Ariz./Desert Vista HS) and Tori Waldeck (Newhall, Calif./Hart HS) in the starting lineup.
• Giammona took a team-high three shots.
• UCLA is coming off a season that saw them make the 2019 Women's College Cup semifinals.

NEXT
 
Pepperdine visits West Coast Conference foe San Diego for a non-conference contest on Friday (Feb. 12) at 1 p.m.