For the first time in two years, the Waves women’s soccer team lost, 5-0, on home turf. The defeat came against local rival University of Southern California Trojans on Sunday afternoon, Aug. 26. According to Pepperdine Athletics, they have been undefeated in the last 11 matches—totaling more than 950 minutes of play time—since Oct. 2016.
At half-time, the score was 1-0, but according to team coach Tim Ward, a penalty kick made by USC’s Savannah DeMelo “changed the game.” Pepperdine players Brielle Preece and Zoe Clevely were able to make three saves during the game, but it wasn’t enough.
“This just wasn’t good enough from us, we know that,” Ward said in an online statement. “We’re a young team and played 10 freshman today. We’ve taken these losses in the past and it’s made us better … We’re humbled by the result but not deterred.”
The Waves will next be playing at home against Indiana on Friday, Aug. 31, at 3 p.m., before heading to UCLA Bruin territory on Sept. 7.