Box Score MALIBU, Calif. – It was a back-and-forth battle in the first ever meeting between Harvard and Pepperdine. The Crimson (2-1-1, 0-0- Ivy) and the Waves (2-0-4, 0-0-0 WCC ) traded strikes in the second half as the sides fought to a 1-1 draw.
HOW IT HAPPENED
- It was a slow start for both sides, as the first ten minutes went by without either team registering a shot or a scoring chance. The Crimson defense anchored by Jade Rose and Sydney Farnham played excellent defense in the opening 15 minutes, halting several Pepperdine advances.
- Harvard pressured in the next ten minutes, creating a handful of chances off great runs from midfielders Hannah Bebar and Anya Van Den Einde. Bebar was able to tee up a shot 26' into the action but was blocked by a Wave defender. Van Den Einde put a pair of balls in position off corner kicks but the Crimson was stopped both times by the Pepperdine keeper.
- Anna Rayhill recorded the first shot on goal late in the first half, but the ball was stopped by the Waves keeper. The score would remain 0-0 after 45'.
- Harvard made a move early in the second half, as Josie Hasbo fired a shot on target just three minutes in.
- The Waves countered, putting their first shot on target at the 52-minute mark but Anna Karpenko was there to make the save and keep the game scoreless.
- Pepperdine scored the first goal of the contest, taking a 1-0 lead in the 64th minute.
- It took Harvard only 65 seconds to level the score. After Josefine Hasbo and Ólöf Kristinsdóttir worked together to get the ball into the box, Hasbo chipped a ball close to the far corner, but a Waves defender jumped in the way, deflecting the ball into her own net. The strike would go down as an own goal for Pepperdine.
- Karpenko made two great plays at the 70' mark, first beating the Waves striker to a ball in the 18, then making another save to keep the game level at one apiece.
- After the 80' mark, the Crimson pushed forward, creating a few chances in the final ten minutes. Kristinsdóttir put three shots on target in the final minutes, with one hitting the pipe and the others straying wide.
- At the 90' mark, the score would remain tied 1-1 as Harvard and Pepperdine would play to a draw in their first ever meeting.
HARVARD HIGHLIGHTS
- Anna Karpenko had another solid game in net, making three saves in the effort.
- The Crimson put three shots on target, one from Kristinsdóttir, Hasbo and Rayhill.
- Kristinsdóttir also rung a shot off the pipe later in the contest.
- Jade Rose played excellent on the backline in the 60 minutes she was on the pitch, helping the defense hold Pepperdine to only eight shots in the match.
- Harvard outshot the Waves 9-8 and held the advantage in corners, 4-3.
- The Crimson's record now stands at 2-1-1 after four contests.
UP NEXT
Harvard will return to Jordan Field this weekend for two more challenging contests against ACC opponents. First up, the Syracuse Orange will roll into town for a Thursday night (Sept. 7) matchup. The North Carolina State Wolfpack will follow when they travel to Harvard on Sunday, Sept. 10. Both matches will be streamed live on ESPN+
