University of Houston
Pepperdine
Cougars Limit Pepperdine to Only One Goal
9/4/2009 12:00:00 AM | Soccer
Sept. 4, 2009
MALIBU, Calif. - The University of Houston soccer team suffers a heartbreaking loss against Pepperdine Friday afternoon at Tari Frahm Rokus Field as the Waves net the lone goal of the game on a penalty kick.
The loss drops Houston to 0-3 on the season as Pepperdine improves its record at 3-1.
"Despite the loss on a penalty kick, we played very well and are improving every game," head coach Susan Bush said. "We played with intensity and heart but were disappointed in the result."
The Cougars were able to keep the Waves off the board in the first half as sophomore keeper Lauren Frazier tallied two saves. Sophomore midfielder Michelle Spacciapolli was fast out of the gate for Pepperdine with a shot on goal in the second minute of the game. Less than a minute later, Cougar forward Nikki Echeverria answered back with a shot at the net but was saved by goal tender Roxanne Baker.
On the verge of halftime, junior midfielder Melanie Adelman recorded the Cougars' second attempt on goal as she fired off a shot in the 33rd minute of the game. Baker's final save in the first half prevented Houston from ending the stalemate.
After play resumed in the second half, Frazier notched another save in the 47th minute of the game. Soon after she was faced with the difficult task of defending Houston's goal against a penalty kick. In a hard-fought effort, Frazier was unable to keep the ball out of the net as senior Kelly Reilly tallied Pepperdine's lone goal in the 54th minute.
The Cougars were unable to salvage the game offensively but were able to limit the Waves to only one goal. Frazier recorded six saves on the game, averaging 6.34 saves this season.
The Cougars will travel down the west coast to Los Angeles on Sunday, Sept. 6 to face the Loyola Marymount Lions at 1 p.m. PT. For live stats, visit www.lmulions.com.
