Pepperdine women’s soccer player Rylee Baisden missed a crucial penalty kick during the Waves’ victory over Pacific University two weeks ago.
Last Saturday, though, the senior forward redeemed herself in winning fashion. Baisden’s penalty kick after two overtimes propelled No. 19 Pepperdine to a 4-3 home victory over the California Golden Bears, ranked 24th, and into the second round of the NCAA tournament.
Baisden’s score ended a shootout in which Pepperdine outscored Cal 3-2. The 5-foot-3 player from Yorba Linda is an All-West Coast Conference first-team member and has been Pepperdine’s scoring leader all season.
Pepperdine coach Tim Ward said Baisden’s winning goal was a critical moment.
“For her to step up a week after the Pacific game and bury that score is immense,” he said. “That shows you what type of leader she is and what type of character she has. That is not an easy moment to step in. It’s a great moment, though, and she deserves that.”
Pepperdine’s opening round win pits them against the North Carolina State Wolfpack on Friday at Stanford University in Palo Alto. The game is at 4:30 p.m.
Pepperdine led Cal 1-0 until the 22:08 mark in the second half when the Golden Bears’ Arielle Ship tied the game. In the contest’s final minutes, and the two 10-minute overtimes, both team’s offenses tried their best to score the winning goal in front of a capacity crowd at Pepperdine’s Tari Frahm Rokus Field, but kicks missed, goalkeepers stopped balls and defenders played tough.
Cal missed the first penalty kick during the shootout after both teams had scored. Pepperdine’s Rachael Collins scored to give the Waves a 2-1 lead. The Golden Bears then scored, and their goalkeeper, Emily Boyd, stopped a Waves’ shot attempt. However, Pepperdine senior goalkeeper Hannah Seabert made a save on next play. Both squads then missed consecutive shot attempts.
That set the stage for Baisden. Her kick streaked past Boyd. As soon as the ball hit the back of the net Baisden’s teammates rushed to congratulate her.
Ward said nothing has come easy for the Waves during the 2016 campaign.
“We aren’t the type of team that is going to blow a team out 3-0, 2-0,” he said. “We have been in a lot of tight games this year, and we know how to win games.”
Ward thought his squad was going to end the game during one of the overtimes.
“We had one or two really good chances to score,” he said. “With [penalty kicks], when you lose them it’s the worst, but when you win them it’s a really great feeling.”
Pepperdine’s Danielle Thomas scored the matchup’s first goal in the sixth minute of the opening half. Seabert had five saves in the game including two in the overtimes.
Pepperdine entered the NCAA Tournament as the WCC champions. The Waves posted a 7-1-1 record in the league. Along the way to the title, Ward collected his fourth Coach of the Year honor and Seabert was named WCC Goalkeeper of the Year.
Seabert and Baisden were named All-WCC first-teamers, while junior midfielder and forward Bri Visalli was named to the All-WCC second team. Sophomore forward Michelle Maemone was recognized as a WCC honorable mention team member. Midfielder Hailey Stenberg was named to the conference’s All-Freshman team.
Ward said great team depth and spirit has made Pepperdine successful this season.
“The unity, the comradery,” the coach said. “Every day these women show up and they work hard. They battle for each other.”
Pepperdine’s win over Cal is officially recognized as a tie, since the game was not decided in regulation or overtime. Pepperdine’s record is 12-4-4.
Ward said the memory of Baisden sealing the victory should be special for anyone that attended the game.
“It’s a big moment,” he said.