Oct. 28, 2001
MALIBU, Calif. - Wave freshman forward Ali Pavoni's goal almost four minutes into overtime lifted No. 20 Pepperdine's women's soccer team to a 1-0 upset victory over No. 2 Santa Clara University in a West Coast Conference match Sunday afternoon at Tari Frahm Rokus Field in Malibu.
The victory ended Santa Clara's 10-match win streak and marked the biggest win in Pepperdine's nine-year history and first-ever over SCU. The Broncos, who had won all seven previous contests against the Waves, represent the highest ranked opponent Pepperdine has ever beaten. The Waves' only other victory over a Top 10 team occurred in 1997 when they defeated then No. 3 ranked Portland 1-0 at home.
Pepperdine improved to 9-2-3 overall and 1-2 in WCC play, while Santa Clara dropped to 14-2, 4-1.
Pavoni scored the decisive goal at the 93:59 mark when she beat a defender and shot the ball to the left corner of the goal past a diving Alyssa Sobolik. The goal was just the seventh shot of the match for Pepperdine and the third for Pavoni.
The Broncos controlled the match's tempo and held a commanding 27-7 shot advantage, including a 15-6 edge in shots-on-goal. Santa Clara had several scoring opportunities throughout the match but had a number of shots hit the crossbar and posts.
Pepperdine goalkeeper Lindsey Brouillette totaled 15 saves and posted her fifth shutout of the season.
The Broncos conclude league action next weekend with a highly-anticipated match against 10th-ranked Portland on Friday, Nov. 2. That contest will begin at Buck Shaw Stadium at 7:30 p.m. The league title is still up for grabs as SCU, Saint Mary's, San Diego and Portland each only have one loss in conference play, but history is on Portland and Santa Clara's sides as they are the only two schools to ever bring home a WCC Championship. Santa Clara concludes the weekend that Sunday, hosting No. 27 San Diego for a 1 p.m. match at the Shaw.
