Box Score Stockton, Calif. – The Pacific women's soccer team fell 1-0 to the visiting #20 Pepperdine Waves on a late second half goal in their final game of the regular season. The loss drops the Tigers to 1-15-1 on the year, 1-8 in WCC play while the win propels the Waves to 12-4-3, 7-1-1 in conference action. Despite a disappointing season in the win-loss column, head coach Kerri Scroope is excited in the direction of this young team.
"I'm extremely proud of their effort today, you're talking about going against a top-20 team," said head coach Kerri Scroope. "But this should be a huge sign to all of Stockton, all of the West Coast Conference, because these kids have battled and given their all all season. This is the future here and I think they showed everybody what they're all about."
In the 16th minute Pepperdine's Katy Byrne fired off a shot from the right side that was headed to the far post, but goalie Lena Perry made a diving stop to deny the scoring chance. Going the other way with 25:42 left Pacific was awarded a free kick by the sideline outside the box. Julia Beck sent the cross into the sea of Tigers but Wave 'keeper Hannah Seabert picked it off and we were kept scoreless.
In the second half the Tiger defense continued their strong play by keeping the Waves out of the scoring line. In the 79th minute of play the Waves were awarded a penalty kick after a hand ball in the box Rylee Baisden lined up to break the scoreless tie but her shot was met by the diving Perry and the Waves were left scoreless. On the other side Hannah Terry booted a corner kick towards the goal that found Eliza Hard but her shot was denied by the goalie. In 83rd minute the Waves finally broke through after Hailey Stenberg's shot hit the crossbar and the resulting rebound found Bri Vasalli who knocked it in the top shelf for the 1-0 lead and eventual victory.
In her final game donning the Orange and Black for Pacific, Perry logged eight saves, including one on a huge penalty kick stop. Fellow seniors Eliza Hard and Mati Long both added shots on goal, and Ebony Ezeji and Maya Jones both adding strong defense in the effort.
