The BYU women’s soccer team fought hard on Saturday, but wasn’t able to score a goal, losing 1-0 to undefeated and nationally ranked Pepperdine.
Pepperdine came out ready to play, quickly firing a shot off within two minutes of the game, giving the Waves an early 1-0 lead the Cougars were never able to match.
Pepperdine has now recorded seven shutouts, only giving up seven goals the entire season.
Although the loss was hard, BYU head coach Jennifer Rockwood gave credit to the Cougars for their effort.
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While the first half didn’t quite go the way the Cougars wanted, Rockwood said she had good feelings about the second half.
“We weren’t as crisp during the first half — we just need to take a breath and settle down,” Rockwood said. “I really feel like we came out in the second half and put a lot of pressure on them, we definitely created our opportunities and I thought we had some great looks and some great chances. That’s all you can really ask of your players — to play hard and create those goal-scoring opportunities.”
BYU out-shot Pepperdine 10-7 during the second half and came close to putting a goal in the back of the net a number of times.
Two flip-throws done by freshman forward Jaiden Thornock in the last minutes of the game were bobbled by the keeper and just inches away from going in.
“It’s a little rough not to have those throws result in goals, but we were so close,” Thornock said. “That was the closest we have ever been in getting a goal off of one of my flip-throws.”
Although the Cougars were down one goal for the majority of the game, Rockwood believed in the girls until the last second.
“We gave up a goal in the first minute which is tough, but I definitely thought we could get it back,” Rockwood said. “Unfortunately we couldn’t get the tying goal, but I was pleased with the way we battled.”
