Utes, Waves Play to 2-2 Tie in Malibu

Friday, September 28

Malibu, Calif.

4:00 PM

University of Utah

Pepperdine

9/28/2007 12:00 AM | Soccer

Sept. 28, 2007

Box Score

MALIBU, Calif. - The University of Utah soccer team remained unbeaten in its last six games Friday afternoon at Tari Rokus Field. The Utes got two goals from junior forward Adele Letro (Davis, Calif.) and played Pepperdine to a 2-2, double-overtime tie.

"Pepperdine is always a tough place to play," Utah head coach Rich Manning said. "I'm proud of the way we played and that we got a result. The girls battled hard and came back twice. That's a good sign of the character this team has."

Pepperdine (1-4-3) lit the scoreboard midway through the first half on an Amanda Rupp goal to go on top 1-0. Late in the first half, Utah (5-2-2) tied it up. Sophomore Kelly Isleib (Park City, Utah) got a high pass over Letro and Pepperdine goalkeeper Kayla Stolte. Letro was the first to reach the loose ball and knocked it home to tie the contest at 1-1.

The Waves took the lead again in the 69th minute. Courtney Price scored on a bending 20-yarder over the head of Utah sophomore keeper Lynzee Lee (Kalispell, Mont.), giving the Waves a 2-1 advantage. Letro tied things up again in the 78th minute when Letro drew a foul in the right corner of the box and scored on the penalty kick. It was Letro's 11th goal of the season.

"Obviously, Adele has carried us through the early part of the season with her scoring," Manning said. "I'm happy she's been able to continue that. The most impressive thing is her conversion rate. It seems like every time she gets a chance, it ends up in the back of the net. That's a real tribute to her poise in front of the net and her shooting ability."

Lee kept Utah in the game late in regulation. With less than 10 minutes left in the second half, Pepperdine forward Emily Wynne broke through the defense and was one-on-one with Lee in the box. The Ute goalkeeper challenged Wynne and took it off her foot before she could get a shot off.

In the second overtime, Utah had a pair of opportunities but couldn't convert. Early in the overtime, Isleib made a pass through the Waves' defense to Letro, who was all alone with the keeper in front of the net. Stolte got just enough of Letro's shot attempt to keep her from scoring. With less than two minutes remaining, freshman Lauren Hair (Alpine, Utah) dribbled past her defender and found Letro six yards in front of the goal. But Letro's shot went right at Stolte and the Pepperdine keeper preserved the 2-2 tie.

Utah plays its final home non-conference game Sunday, when the Utes host Boise State at Ute Field. Kickoff is slated for 1 p.m. at Ute Field.

-UU-