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Bruins Beat Another Top 10 Opponent, Downing Pepperdine, 4-0

by uclabruins.com
Sep 18, 2022
The Bruins celebrate one of four goals at Pepperdine

Malibu, Calif. – For the third time this month, No. 1 UCLA beat a Top 10 opponent on the road, improving to 8-0 by handing No. 9 Pepperdine its first loss of the year, 4-0. There was plenty of offense to go around for the Bruins, as four different players scored goals, and the Bruin defense, led by goalkeeper Lauren Brzykcy, held strong for their fifth shutout of the year.

Reilyn Turner got the Bruins on the board first at 17:10, heading in a Brianne Riley service for her third goal of the 2022 campaign. All three of her goals have been game-winners against Top 10 teams. Turner had two headers off corner kicks saved in the eight minute but would not be denied on a third header attempt.

Brzykcy kept the Waves (6-1-2) off the board in the first half with some big saves, including one in the 36th minute in which she used her quick reflexes to keep Tori Waldeck off the board. The Bruins also got a bit of luck in the 31st minute when a shot by Shelby Little hit the crossbar.

The Bruins continued their aggressive play in the second half, testing Pepperdine goalkeeper Ellie Sommers with three shots on goal in the first five minutes of play after halftime. Lexi Wright doubled UCLA's lead at 60:35, tapping in a shot in front of goal. Maricarmen Reyes and Bridgette Marin-Valencia were credited with the assists.

Sunshine Fontes recorded her team-leading sixth goal of the season at 78:52, and MacKenzee Vance added to the Bruins' total at 84:58 when she scored on an empty netter. The goal was the first for Vance, who had to sit the last two seasons due to an ACL injury.

The Bruins outshot the Waves, 20-8, and forced Sommers into nine saves. Brzykcy finished with four saves and moved into UCLA's Top 5 in career wins with her 45th.

UCLA finishes non-conference play with a perfect 8-0 record, scoring 23 goals while allowing just three. The Bruins will host California on Friday, Sept. 23 in the Pac-12 opener at 8pm at Wallis Annenberg Stadium.

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