MALIBU, Calif. - The Gonzaga University women's soccer team opened West Coast Conference play Friday with a tough 1-0 setback at Pepperdine University.
It's the sixth time in the last seven years that a match between the Bulldogs and Waves has been decided by just one goal, and the fourth-straight 1-0 decision. Pepperdine has bested Gonzaga the last three years.
Gonzaga falls to 4-6-1 overall and 0-1 in league with its fifth one-goal defeat of the year, while Pepperdine improves to 6-3-3 and 1-0 in the WCC.
"These tight matches are encouraging," explained Gonzaga head coach Amy Edwards. "We have been able to keep ourselves in games against talented teams but we now need an attacking presence in the final third for long periods of the match. We need to take more risks and be efficient in our chances."
Pepperdine scored what would become the winning goal in the 54th minute. It was Lynn Williams who tallied the game-winner; she has now accounted for 10 of the Waves 15 goals this season.
Wave Kristen Rodriguez played a thru ball from the right flank into the box that found a streaking Williams. With the defender on her back, Williams had a one-on-one with Zag keeper Christie Tombari and was able to place a shot to the far left post from 5-yards out.
The Bulldogs finished the match with six shots - all of which were on goal - but Edwards believes her team may have been a bit too unselfish Friday.
"We had really nice possession, especially in the second half," stated Edwards. "Unfortunately, as we built great opportunities we didn't pull the trigger or we gave one too many passes which allowed the play to die out. We need to take more chances and trust ourselves."
Pepperdine tallied 24 shots but only eight were on goal. Tombari finished with a career-high seven saves for Gonzaga.
"I felt like our defense did a very good job of forcing Pepperdine to take shots from distance," Edwards said.
The Waves only other dangerous attack came nearly 15 minutes after they tallied their first goal when Rylee Baisden hit a shot that cracked off the cross bar.
Gonzaga looks to rebound Sunday when it plays at Loyola Marymount University. The match between the Zags and Lions is set for 1 p.m.
