MALIBU, Calif. – Playing the conference-leader, Santa Clara women's soccer fell at No. 19 Pepperdine on Friday afternoon 2-1. The Broncos fell behind 2-0 before cutting the deficit in half, but couldn't come up with the tying goal.

In another defensive struggle, the Broncos (5-6-4, 2-2-1) and Waves (10-3-3, 5-0-1) battled in an even game. Pepperdine held the advantage in shots on goal 4-3 with the Broncos earning five corner kicks to four for the Waves. Both Pepperdine goals came off of set pieces with the Broncos scoring the only goal in the run of play.

"We're certainly disappointed with loss today but give credit to Pepperdine who worked really hard today," Santa Clara head coach Jerry Smith said. "They outworked us today and were just a hair more determined in front of goal in their scoring moments. Tight games like that require some extra effort in front of goal and they showed that so they deserved to win."

After Rylee Baisden scored the first goal of the match in the 10th minute off of a penalty kick, Pepperdine appeared to take a 2-0 lead in the 45th minute but the goal was disallowed after being put on the board for a missed offsides call.

A long free kick into the box in the 54th minute did give Pepperdine its second goal of the match. Bri Visalli was battling a Santa Clara defender for the ball near the six-yard box but the Bronco fell down and Visalli went far post to make it 2-0.

"It was tough that both their goals came on free kicks and none came in the run of play," Smith said. "After the penalty kick, we couldn't clear a ball on a free kick and Bri Visalli did a nice job finishing in front of net. It's little things like that that can determine the outcome of a close game."

Santa Clara answered right back with a pretty goal in the 59th. Kellie Peay dribbled down the right side of the field and sent a low pass into the box that went by multiple Waves before finding the foot of Brittany Ambrose who one-timed her shot into the back of the net to make it a 2-1 game.

The Broncos seemed to have momentum after their goal but the Pepperdine defense stayed strong and didn't allow another. Peay had a chance off a corner in the 73rd but her header went just wide and Jordan Jesolva had a shot saved in the 82nd.

Santa Clara has allowed no more than two goals for the 41st straight game. The streak dates back to a 5-2 loss at BYU on Oct. 23, 2014. The Broncos have also not lost a match by more than one goal since that same game.

The 19th ranked Waves were the seventh ranked team Santa Clara has faced this year while playing the fourth toughest schedule in the nation. The Broncos are 2-3-2 in those seven games.

"We've been proud of our defense this year," Smith said. "It's been a good run of not allowing too many goals, especially with the schedule we've faced. We're still trying to figure out how to score two or more goals per game. That's been our Achilles' heel. We have another test coming up Sunday and if we can get a win we'll feel like it's been a good but not great trip."

The Broncos return to the pitch Sunday at 1 p.m. at LMU.

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