After a strong start to the second homestand of the season, Arizona soccer couldn’t keep the momentum rolling on Sunday.
The Wildcats were shutout by Pepperdine 3-0 in a match that was closer than the final score indicates. Arizona (4-3-0) outshot Pepperdine 13-7 but couldn’t convert on a couple close looks. The Waves (3-3-1) scored their first goal past midway of the first half, then added on a pair
in the closing minutes.
The loss is a setback for the Wildcats, who were coming off a 2-1 victory over Denver on Thursday.
Early on it appeared Arizona would find itself back in the driver’s seat. The Wildcats had a golden scoring opportunity in the second minute when midfielder Lily Boydstun connected on a shot feet away from the goal. Pepperdine’s goalkeeper deflected the shot off the crossbar to keep the match scoreless.
Pepperdine kept Arizona at bay all afternoon despite seven shots on goal.
The Waves opened the scoring in the 30th minute when Julia Quinonez lofted a shot over Arizona goalkeeper Olivia Ramey for the match’s first goal.
Arizona had multiple chances for an equalizer, none better than a 50th minute shot on goal by Marissa Arnst that didn’t have quite enough velocity on it.
Pepperdine added on in the final 10 minutes with goals by Alex Pendleton and Kyra Murphy.
Sunday was the second time Arizona has been shutout in non-conference play, the other a 6-0 loss at Stanford on Aug. 28.
Arizona returns to action next Sunday, Sept. 14 when it hosts GCU.
