Upcoming Match: Pacific vs. Pepperdine
Malibu, Calif. – The Pacific women’s soccer team is gearing up for a challenging road match against Pepperdine this Saturday at noon, hosted at Tari Frahm Rokus Field. This match marks an early test in West Coast Conference (WCC) play for the Tigers, who currently hold a record of 3-4-3 overall and 0-1-1 in conference play.
Recent Performance
Following a narrow 1-0 defeat to Portland, Pacific is determined to achieve its first win in the conference and seek its inaugural victory against Pepperdine. Historically, the Tigers have yet to win in the series that began in 1993, and they fell short during their last encounter in Malibu, losing 2-1 in the 2023 season.
Defensive Strategy
Defensively, Pacific has shown resilience, conceding only four goals in the last six matches. In this stretch, the team has been steady, registering a record of 2-2-2, with road victories against Nevada and Eastern Washington. A key player contributing to this solid defense is freshman goalkeeper Lis Van Herwijnen, who boasts a 0.60 goals against average and an .850 save percentage. Her performance places her among the top five in the WCC for goalkeeping statistics, with an average of 3.40 saves per game.
Offensive Contributors
On the offensive front, the Tigers have multiple contributors, with seven players finding the back of the net this season. The standout is sophomore Sierah McCallum, who leads the team with two goals and has made eight shots on target. Junior Kaya Rosa has also increased her presence in attack, amassing a total of 16 shot attempts and maintaining consistent engagement in the last five matches.
Pepperdine’s Current Form
Pepperdine enters this matchup with a 5-4-1 record, including a 2-0 mark in the WCC. They secured wins against Oregon State and Seattle after facing tough opponents like TCU and USC in their non-conference schedule. Notably, Pepperdine’s 6-0 victory over Oregon State set a record for the most goals scored in a match by the Waves since a 7-0 win over San Diego in 2023. Julia Quinonez, who recently earned WCC Offensive Player of the Week honors, leads her team with six goals, having scored in four consecutive games.
Goalkeeping Analysis
For the Waves, Jillian Medvecky has been the primary goalkeeper, achieving 42 saves and maintaining a 1.73 goals against average in ten starts this season. Notably, her performance in WCC matches has been remarkable, allowing just two goals from 19 shots faced.
Match Overview
As these two teams prepare to clash for the 16th time, all eyes will be on whether Pacific can finally secure a win over Pepperdine. Fans can watch the game live on ESPN+ as the teams kick off at noon.
Stay Connected
For real-time updates and insights on Pacific women’s soccer, follow the team on X (@PacificWSoccer), Instagram (@pacificwsoccer), and like their official Facebook page (Pacific Women’s Soccer).
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