Box Score I Video Highlights
PORTLAND, Ore. --- Senior All-American Megan Rapinoe knocked in the rebound of her blocked penalty kick in the 88th minute to give the No. 3 Portland Pilots a 2-1 victory over the Pepperdine Waves on Sunday afternoon. A crowd of 3,257 witnessed Portland extend its win streak to 12, while also honoring Olympic Gold Medalist and former Pilot Stephanie Cox at halftime.
It was a hard-fought win for the Pilots (13-1-0, 3-0 WCC), who surrendered just their fourth goal of the season late in regulation. Pepperdine (6-8-2, 1-2) proved to be a tough test for Portland. The Waves had posted previous wins over No. 23 Tennessee (2-0) and current No. 24 Washington State (1-0), while battling current No. 4 UCLA in a 1-0 defeat.
Pepperdine tied the score at 1-1 in the 77th minute after the Pilot defense struggled to gain possession and clear the ball about 40 yards from their own goal. Sophia Medina picked up the loose ball and led Amanda Rupp into the penalty area. With only Pilot goalie Kelsey Davis to beat, Rupp finished to the lower left from to top of the box for her eighth goal of the season.
Portland quickly bounced back and took control of the run of play, nearly scoring on two sequences minutes later. The first came in the 80th minute as freshman forward Danielle Foxhoven drilled a sitter from 12 yards right at Pepperdine goalkeeper Kayla Stolte. A minute later, Rapinoe blasted a 15 yard shot again into the arms of Stolte, who finished the game with eight saves.
With 2:18 remaining in regulation, Rapinoe sent a pass over the top of the defense to Foxhoven in the penalty box. Foxhoven headed the ball over the head of an oncoming Stolte, who collided hard with the Pilot attacker to warrant a penalty kick.
Rapinoe stepped up to the spot and drilled a liner to Stolte’s right side, she made the initial save but Rapinoe sent the rebound under the cross bar after deflecting off a retreating defender. It was Rapinoe’s third goal of the season.
Portland controlled play throughout the first half, racking up a 9-4 edge in shots. The Pilots’ first goal came as Rapinoe sent a through ball to sophomore striker Sophie Schmidt in the 27th minute. Schmidt’s first shot was knocked down by Stolte, but she dove after the rebound and beat Stolte and two defenders with a diving header from close range.
The Pilots gained an 18-11 edge in shots for the match and 6-4 margin in corner kicks. Davis made three saves in goal for the Pilots, while Rapinoe led all players with five shot attempts.
Portland will next travel to the Bay Area for a pair of West Coast Conference matches. The Pilots will play San Francisco on Friday, Oct. 24 at 5 p.m. and then take on Saint Mary’s on Sunday, Oct. 26 at 1 p.m.
NOTES: Stephanie Cox (nee Lopez) was presented with a framed USA National Team jersey at halftime of the women’s match by Nike Soccer. She then thanked the Portland fans and stuck around to sign autographs following the match. Check back at portlandpilots.com for a complete video of the presentation as well as highlight clips from the match.
