ZACH ENGLUND
Sports Assistant
The women’s soccer team is on a roll, and it does not look like it will be slowing down anytime soon. With a record of 5-1-2, the Waves return home flowing with confidence after extending their unbeaten streak to six, beating two very formidable teams on the road this weekend.
Their first stop of the road trip took them to Lawrence, Kansas, home of the No.-18 Jayhawks. This was the Waves’ first meeting against a ranked opponent this season, and they definitely rose to the occasion with a 3-1 win.
The Jayhawks were all business right out of the gate, playing terrific defense and scoring at the 36:42 mark of the game. Kansas not only led 1-0 going into halftime, but also took nine shots and six corner kicks, keeping the Waves on the defensive in a game they dominated thus far.
Pepperdine could have easily thrown in the towel and hung their heads low, but instead they shined through the adversity, tying the game up at one with a goal from 45 yards out by senior forward Jennifer Brewer with 46:51 on the clock. From that point on, the Waves played like they were the ranked opponent, attacking the defense of Kansas without relent, scoring on a chip-in by freshman backup Kelly Reily at the 56:06 point, marking the first goal of her collegiate career.
Junior midfielder McKenzie Hill followed with a goal of her own, scoring late at the 80:12 mark of the game, all but sealing it for the underdog Waves. Pepperdine went on to win the contest 3-1, proving that they can indeed play with the best the nation has to offer.
Sophomore defender Kelsey Baker thinks that beating a ranked opponent was important, but no more valuable than any other team they win against.
“We’re told that rankings don’t count for anything,” she said. “Our next game is our most important, no matter who it is.”
The final game of the trip brought them to Temple, Ariz., where they would face yet another tough foe in the 4-2-2 Sun Devils but came out with a 1-0 victoru.
Arizona seemed to have control of the game early after two shots early, but it proved to be short-lived. Pepperdine scored quickly at the 16:42 mark, with Hill once again coming up big, making her second goal of the weekend and giving the Waves a 1-0 lead going into halftime.
The Sun Devils would not go down easy, applying pressure on the Waves’ defense while attempting eight shots in the second half. Pepperdine’s defense would hold strong, as sophomore goalkeeper Kayla Stolte, backed by an impressive Waves’ defense, recorded her second solo shutout of the season.
Stolte also earned West Coast Conference “Player of the Week” honors for her performance over the weekend, and Baker speaks for the team when she says it went to the right player.
“There were a few times where she really saved our butts,” Baker said. “It’s a team sport obviously, but she deserved that honor.”
Chemistry is something that carries a lot of weight to a team’s success, especially on the road, and Baker had nothing but good things to say about the players’ commodore.
“I’ve never been with a group of girls that get along any better than our team does,” she said. “Chemistry is very important to our team’s success.”
The Waves will try to build on their momentum Friday when they take on San Diego State at 3 p.m. They will then take a short drive to Los Angeles to face nationally ranked UCLA. The highly anticipated match between the Waves and Bruins is scheduled to begin Sunday at 1 p.m.
09-21-2006
