MALIBU, Calif. — LMU (5-5-3, 4-0-1 WCC) defeated Pepperdine (8-4-2, 4-1-0 WCC) 1-0 on Saturday afternoon in Malibu, Calif.
Julia Zawal scored her first collegiate goal on her lone shot, and it was credited as the game-winning goal.
Cameron Bourne recorded the assist and added two shots.
JJ Hoover played all 90 minutes in goal, made four saves and finished with a shutout. It was Hoover's fifth clean sheet in six matches.
The Lions got through Pepperdine's most sustained first-half pressure without conceding, withstanding four corners and two shots between 9:58 and 21:10 while the match remained 0-0.
Earlier, LMU created the first corner of the half at 1:41 and later answered Pepperdine's early pressure with attempts from Bourne and Isabelle Smith. Pepperdine added another corner in the 28th minute and a shot in the 37th, but the Lions kept the half scoreless. Bourne had another look with 17 seconds left, and the Lions went into halftime even with Pepperdine after neither side scored in the opening half.
Zawal put the Lions in front at 52:33, scoring off Bourne's assist to make it 1-0. The Lions pressured the Waves into a turnover in Pepperdine's defensive half with Bourne darting straight towards goal and putting the Waves' backline in a perilous position. Zawal made a run into the space to Bourne's left and received a perfectly weighted ball before slotting home to the far side of the net.
Pepperdine answered with a sustained spell of pressure, but Hoover made three saves between 57:51 and 60:01 as the Lions kept the lead intact. The Lions also navigated a later stretch that included two Pepperdine corner kicks, a shot off the woodwork and another Hoover save in the 76th minute. The closing minutes turned physical with multiple fouls and yellow cards, including one to Zawal at 88:17, but the Lions held on through the final whistle for a 1-0 win.
With four games left to play in the regular season, the Lions have positioned themselves in a good spot to not only make the inaugural WCC Tournament, but potentially play host to the four-team showcase at Sullivan Field.
Up next, the Lions travel to Seattle, Wash., to face Seattle U on Saturday, Oct. 24, at 6 p.m.
