MORAGA, Calif. - Saint Mary's took the stage Wednesday afternoon in a big time college soccer showdown against #22 Pepperdine in a match with major postseason implications. The Gaels came into the match tied for second with 14 points in the WCC standings while Pepperdine sat in a three-way tie for first place with 17 points alongside Oregon State and 11th ranked Santa Clara.
After going down 1-0 in the first half, the Gaels came out with an offensive flurry to start the second half and it resulted in a goal in the 59th minute to knot the game at one. Both teams would trade blows throughout the rest of regulation with several goal scoring chances but the game would finish in a 1-1 draw, creating a tougher path for Saint Mary's to capture their first ever WCC title. They will need several results to go their way and a win over 11th ranked Santa Clara on Saturday to keep their postseason hopes alive.
FIRST HALF SMC 0-1 PEPPERDINE
Pepperdine showcased their team skill early on with solid build up play posing problems in the Gaels midfield. The game got off to a rather slow start though with only three total shots in the first twenty minutes. The Waves would strike first in the 11th minute with great transition play that allowed Tori Waldeck to get into the box and slot one past
Kate Plachy for her tenth goal of the season, third most in the WCC.
Saint Mary's would find their footing and go on to outshoot Pepperdine 5-3 in the first half but only put two of those on frame. Head coach
Theresa Romagnolo would make some early offensive subs, bringing in
Maddie Lucas,
Micaela Romo and
Taylour Mendoza to go a little more direct at the Waves backline but they would enter the half down a goal with their season on the line.
FINAL SMC 1-1 PEPPERDINE
Theresa Romagnolo gave a clear message to her team at the half and that was to play with energy and intensity and as a result, the Gaels came out on the front foot creating several scoring chances and turnovers in Pepperdine's defensive half.
Tessa Salvestrin,
Sydney Middaugh and
Isabel Lendman all returned to the field and had a huge impact on the team's intensity levels.
They would be rewarded for their efforts just thirteen minutes into the second half with a goal from Middaugh to tie the game and make for an entertaining final half hour of regulation. The Gaels would put together a nice spell of possession and the ball would find its way wide to Salvestrin in a one-v-one situation. Salvestrin would take her defender towards the endline and play a beautiful cutback ball to Middaugh who would put it home for her fourth goal of the season.
Salvestrin struggled to get those one-v-one scenarios in the first half but she would make the most of this opportunity with a great move down the line and a pass across the face of goal to find Middaugh.
Isabel Lendman also provided a great spark for the Gaels with relentless effort on both ends of the field, she finished with a shot and 73 minutes of action in just her third start of the season.
The Gaels did put together a pair of dangerous scoring opportunities following their equalizer with shots from Salvestrin and Middaugh. Salvestrin would force a save from Pepperdine's keeper in the 74th minute and then Middaugh would rifle a shot over the bar off a counter attack just a minute later. Pepperdine would have their share of scoring chances as well in the second half as both teams finished the match with eleven shots, four on target for the Gaels and three for the Waves.
Saint Mary's would successfully defend a set piece in the final minute of regulation to conclude a thrilling back and forth affair and seal the 1-1 draw. Mathematically, both teams are still in the hunt for the WCC league title but the road got a lot tougher for the Gaels as they will need a win over Santa Clara on Saturday and other results to go their way.
Nonetheless, Saint Mary's continues their terrific end to the regular season as they have not dropped a match since October 9th and will enter Saturday with a five game unbeaten streak.
Amari Hicks,
Khalia Gathright and
Emmie Ennis played all 90 minutes in the team's backline while
Emma Barthel and
Savannah Schwarze held down the midfield with their ninth and third 90-minute performances this season. The last time Saint Mary's earned points against a ranked opponent came last season in a 1-0 upset victory over 15th ranked Washington State.
Saint Mary's also honored their six graduating seniors,
Amaya Simoni-Walters,
Khalia Gathright,
Taylour Mendoza,
Brooke Christie,
Emily Johnson and
Emma Barthel.
LOOKING AHEAD
Saint Mary's improves to 7-6-4 overall and 4-2-3 in WCC play after their 1-1 draw with #22 Pepperdine. They will conclude the regular season on the road against 11th ranked Santa Clara on Saturday at 1:00 PM. Stream the game live on ESPN+ and get your tickets online at smcgaels.com.
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