LONG BEACH, Calif. – The #9 Pepperdine women's soccer team collected its sixth shutout of the season after downing Long Beach State 2-0 on Thursday night at George Allen Stadium. The Waves are unbeaten after eight games for the first time since 2011. This is the first time since 2004 that Pepperdine has collected six shutouts in the first eight games.
The Waves (6-0-2) had the momentum right from the start and scored the first goal on only their second shot of the game and the second goal coming eight minutes after on their third shot. The Waves outshot Beach (1-4-3) 17-9. Pepperdine has outshot every opponent so far this season.
Ellie Sommers made three clutch saves to keep LBSU off the board for a full 90 minutes and collected her fourth shutout of the season.
GOALS
Pepperdine 16': After LBSU made two passes, on the third touch senior midfielder
Carlee Giammona (Las Vegas, Nev./Palo Verde HS/Alabama) stepped in and stole the ball and made her way towards the box from the offensive side of the midfield circle. Giammona dribbled down to about 20 yards out and sent a smooth right-footed pass in front of two Beach defenders to junior forward
Tori Waldeck (Newhall, Calif./Hart HS). Waldeck sent a right-footed rocket past the LBSU keeper into the bottom left corner. This was Waldeck's fourth goal of the season.
Pepperdine 24': Waldeck sent a right-footed pass to junior defender
Victoria Romero (Claremont, Calif./The Webb Schools), right outside the circle in the offensive zone. Romero bounced a pass off her right foot to freshman forward
Tatum Wynalda (Thousand Oaks, Calif./Westlake HS). Wynalda controlled the ball with her right foot between two LBSU defenders. As the Beach keeper came out to try and make the save, Wynalda slid and sent a rocket off the bottom of the crossbar that fell right behind the goal line. This was Wynalda's fourth goal of the season.
STATS
Shots: Pepperdine 17, LBSU 9
Shots on Goal: Pepperdine 4, LBSU 3
Saves:
Ellie Sommers (Pepperdine) 3, Morgan Houston-Shepherd (LBSU) 2
Corner Kicks: Pepperdine 6, LBSU 2
Offsides: Pepperdine 5, LBSU 3
Fouls: Pepperdine 8, LBSU 9
QUOTABLE
Head coach
Tim Ward said: "I'm really proud of the ladies tonight on a great road win against an A-class Long Beach State program. That has never been an easy place to get a result for us.
"Having said that, we thought the ladies managed the game really well, played some beautiful soccer and scored two wonderful goals. On the defensive side, we posted another shutout and our team's commitment to defending is really inspiring. We're going to need that in the days, weeks and months ahead."
UP NEXT
The Waves will wrap up non-conference hosting #1 UCLA on Sunday, Sept. 18. Kick off is set for 1 p.m. and will be streamed on the WCC Network.
