Sept. 24, 2000

Box Score

Santa Barbara, Calif. - UC Santa Barbara played 90 solid minutes of soccer Sunday night against offensive powerhouse Pepperdine, but in the end Santa Barbara came up short as Pepperdine edged them 1-0. Pepperdine entered the contest averaging slightly over three goals a match and riding a three game winning streak. Santa Barbara's defense manage to hold Pepperdine under its average as senior co-captain Meghann Phillips and junior goalkeeper Mary Gleason played their best yet.

The first half was highlighted with each team coming very close to scoring off great offensive plays. In the 10:00 mark freshman Inez Oriol headed a corner kick that just missed as junior Cheri Phillips of Pepperdine managed to get a hand on. The Waves then fired back in the 38:00 mark as junior Yvonne Pierson raced on a breakaway and fired a shot that was just right of the goal post.

The second half was controlled by Pepperdine as they took nine shots with eight coming on goal. Junior Mary Gleason was busy for most of the half as she recorded a season high eight saves, but ultimately fell one short as junior Lacey Ubaldi of Pepperdine managed to break through and score in the 86:00 mark.

"I'm very proud of our team. We played the best 90 minutes of the season yet," said coach Paul Stumpf. "It's always tough facing a team as confident as Pepperdine. We knew we had to defend well individually and as a group."

With the loss the Gauchos fall to 4-4-1 overall. Pepperdine moves to a 7-1-1 mark with a four game win streak and a seven game unbeaten streak still in tact. Santa Barbara will face St. Mary's Friday, September 29 at 4:00pm in Moraga, California.