After early defeat women’s soccer team exacts revenge
By Jeremy Tammaro
Sports Assistant
After a devastating 1-0 loss against the unranked Loyola Marymount Lions in the Waves West Coast Conference opener Oct. 13, the team bounced back with a 2-0 win over the Gonzaga Bulldogs Oct. 18.
The women’s soccer team had their program record 12-match unbeaten streak snapped with the loss to LMU.
The Waves resurfaced as contenders for the programs first WCC title with a 2-0 upset over the previously ranked No. 2 University of Portland Pirates Oct. 20. The No. 12 Waves now stand at 12-1-2 on the season.
“Our attitude and confidence before the match was at a great level,” Waves head coach Tim Ward said of the Portland match. “Not too high, but we definitely believed we could pull off a win.”
Pepperdine freshman goalkeeper Anna Picarelli made just her second start of the season against the talented Pilots.
“I was really excited,” Picarelli said, “but also I was really nervous about it. My team gave me a lot of support and I was really happy to finally play with them.”
With the assurance and comfort from her teammates, Picarelli tallied two saves in the match.
“Anna was just amazing and solid,” Ward said.
While the Pilots out shot the Waves 13-5, the defense did a wonderful job not to allow only two shots on goal.
“We have a really strong defense,” Picarelli said, “(they) make me real comfortable.”
The Waves also have a really strong offense, led by whoever steps up during any given match. It just so happens that freshman forward Megan Woods got the opportunity against Portland, and she made the most of it.
“I didn’t have too many expectations (about the match),” Woods said. “I didn’t know how much playing time I would get. I didn’t know how I would step up to the plate.”
Woods took four of Pepperdine’s five shots, but she found the back of the net twice in the second half to give the Waves both the lead and a cushion.
Woods first goal came in the 52nd minute as she took a quick restart down the left side of the field and blasted a shot to the far post past Portland keeper Lauren Arase, setting off a frenzied celebration by the Waves.
“I was so excited,” Woods said. “We kind of dog-piled (each other) down there in front of the goal.”
Woods second goal came 17 minutes later when junior forward Lacey Ubaldi sent a through ball in drawing Arase off her line. Woods beat two Portland defenders to the ball and then kicked it under the advancing Pilot’s goalkeeper to add the capper to the match. Ubaldi gathered an assist on the play.
“Goals are kind of funny,” Woods said. “I might have scored it, but it is a total team effort.”
The team played well against the Gonzaga Bulldogs as they attempted to rebound from their first loss of the season.
Junior midfielder April Blaker scored in the 75th minute to break the scoreless tie. Ubaldi added the final goal in the 87th minute as freshman forward Jenna Fodor added an assist on the play. The two goals were more than enough for Picarelli as she posted a shutout.
The match against Gonzaga marked the first collegiate start for Picarelli, who gathered one save on her way to her first collegiate victory.
“Anna definitely earned her wings this weekend,” Ward said.
The victory over Gonzaga helped the Waves get over the lone blemish on their remarkable resume.
The Pepperdine Waves entered West Coast Conference play undefeated and flying high. The Loyola Marymount Lions came into conference play with three loses, so nothing had to give, but it did.
The Lions scored in the 60th minute when freshman forward Kelly Lewandowski beat Waves junior goalkeeper Teresa Montano for a 1-0 lead. Though the Waves registered seven shots on goal, Lions sophomore goalkeeper Kelly Yukihiro swallowed them up. The match marked the first time this season that the Waves failed to score at least one goal.
Pepperdine heads into this weekend with yet another top five-ranked opponent, this time against the defending national champion Santa Clara. The match is at home Friday at Tari Frahm Rokus Field and is slated to begin at 3 p.m. The Waves will play host to San Diego Sunday afternoon.
October 24, 2002