The women’s soccer team traveled to San Diego Aug. 27 to compete in the University of San Diego Tournament against Pac-10 rival Arizona. The Waves were hoping to improve upon their 2-0 season-opening win against Fresno State (0-1-0) but fell 1-0 to Michigan on Friday night. They looked to redeem themselves Sunday in their rival match against Arizona and did just that pulling out a 4-2 win against the Wildcats.
With two wins and only one loss under their belt it’s time for the team to start taking things one step at a time as they look towards the NCAA tournament and hope to better their standings in the West Coast Conference after a tie for fourth place in 2009. Last season the Waves missed the NCAA tournament but Head Coach Tim Ward said that a couple wins this season encouraged by the camaraderie of the team could pull them through.
Ward said he was pleased with the Waves’ victory against Fresno State on Aug. 20. He also mentioned that he “sees some differences between last year and this year already and hopes to continue improving.
The Waves had their work cut out for them as they went into three straight games on the road against Michigan, Arizona and Cal State Northridge, who they play September 3.
Senior defender Haleigh Guertin (Corona, Calif.) and junior midfielder/forward Laura Cole (Whittier, Calif.) are expected to lead the young team as the season progresses due to their leadership and experience. Setting the right tone has been one of the team’s strengths coming off of their pre-season training camp. Cole and Guertin will need to rally the upperclassmen and continue the effort throughout the season in order to keep pace.
Pepperdine welcomes back eight of their starting 11 players from the 2009 season and added eight new freshmen. While Guertin is the only senior on the roster, her defensive dominance and experience are going to be key for the Waves if they expect to improve on their 11-7-1 record from the past season. Ward mentioned that the youth of the team, 16 of the 23 being freshmen or sophomores, will help them with fresh legs off the bench.
Defensive consistency and offensive finishing are Pepperdine’s biggest areas for opportunity on the field.
One of our goals every year is to set the school shutout record Ward said in a preseason interview. Sophomore goalkeeper Roxanne Barker (Irvine, California) stepped up to the plate against Fresno State when the defense had a few unorganized moments. It will be up to Barker and Guertin to organize and coordinate the team’s defense.
In their 2009 season, the Waves scored a paltry 18 goals in 19 games. If they plan to make the NCAA tournament and place in the WCC this year, sophomore forward Anisa Guajardo (Clovis, Calif.), who netted one of the goals against Fresno State, Laura Cole, junior midfielder/forward Michelle Spacciapolli (San Diego) and junior forward/defender Myriah Stockman (Sandy, Utah) are going to have to start placing them in the back of the net. Ward already mentioned that this is a figure that must and will improve.”
Pepperdine meets Michigan and Arizona this weekend in San Diego followed by Cal State Northridge on Sept. 3 and then return home to face off against Detroit Sept. 5 at 1 p.m.
