Women’s Soccer: No. 22 Pepperdine Falls to No. 4 Brigham Young 2-0
Waves Await Postseason Fate as NCAA Tournament Field Announced Monday

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November 3, 2012

MALIBU, Calif. – No. 22 Pepperdine put up a strong fight but could not get a result against No. 4 Brigham Young, dropping a 2-0 West Coast Conference decision Saturday in the regular season finale for both teams at Tari Frahm Rokus Field. The Waves (14-6-0, 5-3-0 WCC) now await their postseason fate as the 2012 NCAA Tournament field will be announced Monday, November 5.

The field of 64 teams will be announced at 1:30 p.m. (PT) and will be streamed live on NCAA.com. With a national ranking of No. 22 and an RPI rating of No. 23, Pepperdine figures to earn one of the 34 at-large bids for the 2012 tournament. The first round will be held at 32 on-campus sites from November 9-11. The Cougars (18-1-1, 7-0-1 WCC) earned the league’s automatic berth by securing their inaugural WCC championship.  

“BYU is a quality soccer team,” Pepperdine head coach Tim Ward said. “In terms of matchups they’re just tough. Not only are they tall, they’re also athletic and hard-working. They’ve done a really nice job with their group. All credit to them for winning the conference championship.”

After a nice senior day ceremony recognizing the six-member class of 2012, Pepperdine and BYU battled to a standstill in the first half. Both teams created quality scoring opportunities and seven of the combined 10 shots in the opening period were on goal. Kristin DeGrandmont (Portland, Ore./Jesuit HS) preserved the scoreless tie, clearing a ball destined for the back of the net in the 38th minute.

“I thought we played well,” Ward said. “I thought the first half was actually a good game. I even thought the second half was, by and large, a good game. In a game like that, you’re not going to get a ton of chances, but you’re going to get a couple good looks and we did. We had ours. We created the chances we wanted to, but you’ve got to bury them when you get them. That game is preparation for us. That is one of the best teams in the country and I think we can learn something from that going into the NCAA Tournament.”

BYU created more chances in the second half and held an 8-1 shot advantage after the intermission and led 14-5 overall. The Waves were not without their opportunities, but the Cougars tough defense repelled some dangerous chances.

Cloee Colohan put BYU on the scoreboard first in the 68th minute with scoring strike off a free kick from the left side. The shot from 25 yards out to the near post was deflected but tucked into the far post. Carlee Payne Holmoe added an insurance goal in the 84th minute off a deflected assist from Kayla Varner.

Lynn Williams (Fresno, Calif./Bullard HS) led the Waves with a pair of shots and created some dangerous moments, while Colohan fired a match-high six for the Cougars.

Roxanne Barker (Irvine, Calif./Woodbridge HS) played well in her final regular season contest and collected five saves, four coming in the first half. Erica Owens (12-1-1) picked up her ninth shutout of the season and made four saves for BYU.

SENIOR SALUTE: Six Waves made their final regular season appearance Saturday, November 3 against No. 4 Brigham Young. Pepperdine soccer celebrated the careers of Roxanne Barker (Irvine, Calif./Woodbridge HS), Anisa Guajardo (Clovis, Calif./Buchanan HS), Jennifer Karson (Frazier Park, Calif./Frazier Park HS), Callie Payetta (Huntington Beach, Calif./Huntington Beach HS), Ana Pontes (Houston, Texas/Clear Lake HS) and Kelsea Smith (Camarillo, Calif./Oaks Christian HS) in a pregame ceremony.