MALIBU, Calif. – The Washington State Cougar soccer team (4-4-3) lost, 3-2, to the No. 13 Pepperdine Waves, Wednesday afternoon at Tari Frahm Rokus Field in Malibu, California. The Waves scored early in the match before WSU’s Megan Santa Cruz and Grayson Lynch found the net to give the Cougars a 2-1 halftime lead. Nationally-ranked Pepperdine rallied back with a pair of second-half goals after a red card to WSU’s Peyton Price saw the Cougs down a player for the final 40 minutes.
There were fireworks from the opening whistle, as Reese Tappan and Nadia Cooper were called upon early for a pair of saves. The Cougars found their footing and got on the attack with Jenna Studer delivering a header on frame off a corner kick. The Waves found the net in the ninth minute and took an early lead when a deflected clearance found the feet of Pepperdine’s Tori Waldeck and the easy finish.
WSU responded less than five minutes later when sophomore Megan Santa Cruz scored her first goal of the season and equalized the match. The Burbank, California native pounced on a loose ball at the top of the penalty area, taking the shot off the half-volley. Santa Cruz’s shot deflected off a Pepperdine defender and in for the tie and her second career goal.
The match opened up after the equalizer, as each side adjusted to the offensive action. In the 20th minute, Reagan Kotschau served in a corner kick, eyeing the Olimpico,…
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