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UCLA Women’s Soccer Get Late Goal To Advance Past Pepperdine

By Mike Regalado

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The UCLA Women’s Soccer team needed a goal in the 88th minute to defeat Pepperdine 1-0. The Bruins not only advance to the Elite Eight of the NCAA Tournament, but also continue their shutout streak in these playoffs, which extends to nine. Goalkeeper Katelyn Rowland keeps pushing her recently claimed NCAA all-time record shut outs to 55 in a west coast battle and even captured the single-season shut out record of 19.

The Bruins had possession the majority of the time, but nothing like they saw in their first two games against San Diego and Harvard as the Wave’s defense had caused fits for the Bruins. In trying to limit UCLA’s scoring chances, the Waves had packed their side of the field on every Bruin possession by getting in passing lanes and disrupting the UCLA’s offense. It was a back and forth affair that saw only a few chances for the Bruins. But that changed in the second half.

UCLA was getting a little bit more risky and more forceful as they had several shots in Pepperdine’s end that could have made this game a lot rougher for the Waves. Still, Pepperdine held on behind some excellent work by their goalie Hannah Seabert. Unfortunately for her, the Bruins had too many weapons and got the game winner in the 88th minute that sealed the victory for UCLA and has them moving onto the next round of the tournament.

Sam Mewis had received the ball from Darian Jenkins after she rushed down the right side line and crossed it into the box. Mewis received it and changed direction to avoid a Pepperdine defender which gave her enough time and space to blast it past Seabert for the game winning goal. With two minutes left in the game, the Waves had no chance to retaliate, especially with the Bruins going into defensive mode at that point, not wanting to give up the game tying goal.

With that, the Bruins now move onto the Elite Eight to face #2 Virginia who had blanked Kentucky 7-0 earlier in the day. That game is set for Novemebr 28 at 5:00 p.m. PT at Drake Stadium. Go Bruins!