UCLA
Pepperdine (NCAA 2nd Round)
No. 4 Bruins Down Pepperdine, 2-0 in NCAA Second Round
November 16, 2003 | Women's Soccer
Nov. 16, 2003
LOS ANGELES - Following a scoreless first half, fourth-seeded UCLA tallied a pair of goals in the second half to defeat Pepperdine, 2-0 Sunday in an NCAA Second Round showdown at UCLA's Drake Stadium. With the victory, UCLA (18-3-3) moves on to the third round and will take on 13th-seeded Kansas in a home match on Friday, Nov. 21 at 7:00 p.m. Pepperdine ends its season with a 14-6-1 overall record.
Much like she has done all season, Bruin forward Iris Mora tallied her sixth game-winning goal of the year Sunday, breaking a scoreless tie in the 62nd minute of play. Mora, who leads the team in scoring with 37 points (12g, 13a), was able to out-jump a Pepperdine defender and head in an Amy Fazio cross to give the Bruins a 1-0 lead.
UCLA would score its second goal of the match less than a minute later when forward Lindsay Greco received a Jill Oakes pass deep in the Pepperdine box. Greco was able to slip in a right-footed shot past goalkeeper Anna Picarelli.
UCLA's back line consisting of Kathryn Lee, Amy Fazio, Kendal Billingsley and Nandi Pryce turned in one of its best defensive performances of the season Sunday, holding the Waves to just one shot on the day. Offensively, the Bruins had 24 shots and were led by Sarah-Gayle Swanson, Bristyn Davis and Mora, who each had five. UCLA also owned a 9-1 advantage in corner kicks.
Bruin goalkeeper Arianna Criscione, who made her only save of the day in the last seconds of the match, registered her fifth shutout of the season.
UCLA stands just two victories away from tying the school record for most victories in a season. The 2001 team finished with a 20-3 overall record. It is the fifth year in a row that the Bruins have advanced to the third round of the NCAA Tournament.
Friday's third-round match between UCLA and Kansas will be the first-ever meeting between the two schools.
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