Women’s Soccer Falls at Pepperdine in Season Opener, 1-0

Friday, August 24

Malibu, CA

6:00 PM ET

Brown University

0-1

Pepperdine

1-2

Brown

Pepperdine

Women’s Soccer Falls at Pepperdine in Season Opener, 1-0

8/24/2018 7:28:00 PM | Women's Soccer

Box Score

Senior Goalkeeper Christine Etzel Makes Eight Saves

MALIBU, Calif. – Senior goalkeeper Christine Etzel made eight saves, but Joelle Anderson scored in the fifth minute as Brown University women's soccer fell at Pepperdine University, 1-0, in its season opener on Friday afternoon at Tari Frahm Rokus Field.

Facing a team that was ranked No. 18 in the United Soccer Coaches Preseason Poll, the Bears (0-1-0) created chances in the second half but could not find an equalizer as the Waves (1-2-0) – the two-time defending West Coast Conference champions – held on for the win and did not allow a goal at home for the 10^th straight game dating back to last season.

The Waves notched the game's only goal at the 4:59 mark as Anderson slotted a shot from the top of the box into the right side of the net after receiving a feed from Brie Welch.

Etzel (Madison, Conn.) tallied eight or more saves in a game for the sixth time in her career in the loss (0-1-0). She turned aside four shots in the second half, including a one-handed block in the 82^nd minute. Etzel made four saves in the first half, including a diving stop on a free kick from the edge of the penalty area in the 28^th minute.

The Bears increased their pressure at the start of the second half with a pair of shots and corner kicks inside of the period's first seven minutes. A chip from freshman Lauren Hinton (Middletown, Conn.) off a long throw-in from freshman Maesyn G'Bye (Ladera Ranch, Calif.) went just over the bar in the 47^th minute.

Brown pushed forward again around the final quarter hour with another long throw from G'Bye in the 74^th minute and a free kick from sophomore Sydney Cummings (Millstone Township, N.J.) in the 77^th minute challenging Pepperdine's back line.

The Bears' best scoring chance in the first half came as junior Abby Carchio (Lakeville, Mass.) played an in-swinging corner kick from the left side that passed threateningly through the six-yard box.

Pepperdine led the match in shots (16-3), shots on goal (9-0), and corner kicks (5-3). The Waves controlled play in the first half with advantages in shots (9-0) and shots on goal (5-0) before Brown made play more even in the second stanza, tying the hosts in corners (2-2).

Pepperdine goalkeeper Brielle Preece earned the shutout in the win (1-0-0).

Next, Brown plays at UC Santa Barbara on Sunday, Aug. 26 at 4:00 p.m. ET (1:00 p.m. PT).

Game Notes:
The meeting was the first between the two programs … Brown is making its third-ever trip to California; the Bears fell to 1-3-1 all-time when playing in the state and to 2-5-2 when playing teams from California … Brown moved to 29-14-1 all-time in season openers. The Bears had won their last seven openers … Nine Brown freshmen made their collegiate debuts – Sara Bermudez, Charlotte DeVaughn, Maesyn G'Bye, Lauren Hinton, Zoe Maxwell, Claire Myers, Rebecca Rosen, Bridget Stokdyk, and Malina Yago … Christine Etzel now has 217 career saves.

Video of all Brown women's soccer home contests and all Ivy League games, home and away, will be broadcast live on ESPN+.

Tickets for all Brown women's soccer games can be purchased online, by calling the Brown Athletics Ticket Office at (401) 863-2773, or by walking up to the box office located in the Pizzitola Sports Center, open Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.