Pepperdine soccer team improves record to 2-1-1 after Puma Classic.
JEN ISO
Staff Writer
The Pepperdine women’s soccer team defended its home turf this past weekend, holding the Dayton Flyers to a 2-2 tie and defeating the Ohio Buckeyes 1-0 as part of the Puma Classic.
The Waves improved their record to 2-1-1.
Pepperdine kicked off Friday afternoon at Tari Frahm Rokus Field against the Dayton Flyers. Senior Lyndsey Redlin and sophomore Emily Wynne worked together to score the first goal, putting the Waves ahead. Dayton was quick to respond with a goal less than a minute later.
The dynamic duo fought back as Redlin passed the ball to Wynne, who scored her second goal of the match in the 27th minute. Dayton goalkeeper Niki Reed would not let the Waves stay ahead. After a Pepperdine foul, Reed took a direct kick 45 yards out to put the ball in the back of the Waves’ net.
Pepperdine goalkeepers Kayla Stolte and Kathryn Cumming held the Waves’ defense together, protecting the net to keep the game at 2-2.
Head Coach Tim Ward, who is in his ninth season with the Waves, is pleased with the women’s performance.
“I thought we played really well,” Ward said. “We scored some magnificent goals. We had a couple of defensive setbacks, but that is part of the growing and learning.”
Ward recently celebrated his 100th career win at Friday’s season opener. Ward is hopeful this season, but knows advancing will be a challenge.
“I think this could definitely be perhaps one of the toughest schedules we’ve ever had,” Ward said. “There are no easy games on the schedule; every single one is going to be a war.”
The battle continued Sunday when the Waves took on Ohio State. It was a tough match as the Waves took a beating from the Buckeyes. The referee continued to signal “play on” as players were constantly knocked and shoved onto the field.
A scoreless first half ended, but the Waves knew they had to come back strong.
In the 53rd minute, a hand ball was called on Ohio after a Pepperdine corner kick. Wynne decided to make the score 1-0 as her free kick hit the back of the net. Wynne’s three goals from the weekend earned her the tournament’s MVP.
The game was far from over. The Buckeyes continuously pushed the ball toward the Waves’ goal, but Pepperdine’s defense would not back down. Defenders Kelsey Baker, Ashley Copp, Caitlin Mitchell and Courtney Nelson held the Buckeyes to a shutout.
The Waves continued to fight as they constantly pressured Ohio’s defense. With three minutes left, the Waves kept control of the ball and defeated the Buckeyes 1-0.
Captain Jenna Shay was ecstatic to pull off a victory and beat the Ohio team.
“It was amazing, we’ve been working for it for a long time,” Shay said. “Because they are an out of region team, this is good for us. We are put up against other regions and now we have a better chance because we beat them.”
Ward was pleased with the women’s performance throughout the weekend as well.
“To get a win and a tie against these two teams is pretty good,” Ward said. “Obviously we would have liked to have won both, but you can’t look back, we’ll only press ahead.”
Seated 20th, the Pepperdine Waves hope to grow together and work as a team to make it to the end. The team camaraderie is strong and the women hope it will only get stronger.
“I would really like to use my experience here at Pepperdine and help the younger girls in any way that I can,” team captain Nelson said. “Whether that be classes, or advice anything that I can do, I would really like to help them.”
Ward said ranking doesn’t matter, but he believes in his team and knows the girls are capable of great things this season.
“I think we have the team and the players to be in every single game we play,” Ward said. “We want to win our second WCC championship. We won back in ’02 and I feel like with this team, we can do that.”
Freshman Sophia Medina, is excited to be a part of the Waves’ squad and is ready to help her team make it to the end.
“I love it, I love all the girls,” Medina said. “They make it a lot of fun.”
When asked what she looks forward to this season, Medina replied, “To go all the way and win the championship.”
The war continues when the Waves take on the University of Tulsa on Friday at home.
09-07-2006