Aug. 20 2003

After producing the finest season in school history and taking the program to unprecedented heights a year ago, the Pepperdine women's soccer team has a tough act to follow in 2003.

The Waves concluded 2002 with their first-ever final national Top 10 ranking after compiling a program-best 18-2-2 overall record, capturing their initial West Coast Conference (WCC) Championship and advancing to the "Sweet 16" of the NCAA Tournament for the first time in school history.

The Waves set or tied nine school records, including most wins in a season (18), longest unbeaten streak (12) and longest winning streak (8).

Highlighting the season were back-to-back victories over perennial national and conference powers Portland and Santa Clara, and wins in the first two rounds of the NCAA Tournament. The Pilots and Broncos advanced to the finals of the Women's College Cup in Austin, Texas, where Portland posted a 2-1 overtime victory to claim the school's first-ever national title.

Pepperdine became the first team in WCC history to defeat both Portland and Santa Clara in the same season and the first program other than the Pilots or Broncos to win the conference title. The Waves went 6-1 in conference play, tying Santa Clara, and earned the WCC's automatic berth to the NCAA Tournament.

Pepperdine also recorded its second straight unbeaten non-conference schedule with a 10-0-2 mark and extended its regular-season unbeaten streak against non-league opponents to 33 matches dating back to the second contest of the 2000 season.

The Waves' only regular-season loss was a 1-0 setback to local rival Loyola Marymount in both team's WCC opener. Pepperdine then went on an eight-match winning streak that ended with a 2-0 loss to Michigan in frigid Ann Arbor during the third round of the NCAA Tournament.

Making the program's second straight NCAA Tournament appearance, Pepperdine earned the No. 3 national seed and advanced to the "Sweet 16" after registering a 2-0 first-round victory over Wisconsin-Milwaukee and posting a dramatic 2-1 come-from-behind overtime win against Wisconsin in a second-round match at Valley Fields on the campus of Marquette University.

Pepperdine concluded the year ranked No. 7 in the final Soccer Buzz poll and No. 9 in the season-ending National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) rankings, joining Portland and Santa Clara as one of three WCC teams to finish the year in the national Top 10. The Waves were also No. 5 and No. 6 in the final regular season rankings by Soccer America and SoccerTimes, respectively.

Entering the 2003 campaign, Pepperdine is once again poised to make a run at the WCC title and has expectations of advancing far into the NCAA Tournament.

Playing in arguably one of the top three women's soccer conference's in the country, the Waves were tabbed to finish third in the WCC by the league's head coaches behind powers Portland and Santa Clara, who tied for the top spot in the balloting.

Sixth-year head coach Tim Ward welcomes back 14 letterwinners, including seven starters, from last year's club.

Highlighting the list of returning players is third team All-American defender Ashley Swanson and the top four scorers from a year ago in junior forward Ali Pavoni, sophomore forward Jenna Fodor, senior forward Lacey Ubaldi and sophomore forward Megan Woods.

Pavoni and Fodor tied for the team-lead with 27 points, while Ubaldi totaled 25 points and Woods tallied 22.

"We have the core of our team returning and have added several new recruits to the program who have the ability to make an immediate impact on the team," Ward said. "Our veteran players got a sampling of what they and this team is capable of accomplishing and are eager get another taste of the success we enjoyed last season.

"The recruits coming in are not only talented but come from successful club programs, some of which won national championships, and will bring a winning mentality to the Pepperdine program," Ward added.

Early on in the 2003 season, Ward and his coaching staff will be looking for players to step up and assume leadership roles that were held by several of last year's seniors.

The Waves had eight seniors on last year's team which included defender Susan Palmer, who was an All-West Region performer and first team All-WCC selection, forward Kristi Bissonnette, who concluded her Pepperdine career ranked third on the school's all-time points list with 65, and midfielders April Blaker, Ann Desmond and Tasha Spangler, who were consistent performers and provided valuable leadership.

"Our graduating seniors were vital contributors to raising the level of our play and putting Pepperdine among the elite women's soccer programs in the country," Ward said. "They will be missed, but I am confident we have players who will step up and assume those roles."

Swanson was one of a program-record seven players who earned post-season recognition in 2002. In addition to earning third team All-American honors, Swanson was tabbed All-West Region and first team All-WCC after helping Pepperdine register a school-record 0.75 goals-against average.

Pavoni, who scored a team-high 11 goals, including a team-high tying four game-winning goals, was selected All-West Region and was a second team All-WCC pick.

Fodor, who tied Pavoni with 27 points and four game-winning goals, received honorable mention All-WCC, while Ubaldi was tabbed a second team All-WCC selection.

Ubaldi enters her senior campaign ranked No. 5 on Pepperdine's all-time points list with 53 and goals scored (18). She is currently third on the school's all-time assists list with 17.

Woods received honorable mention All-WCC accolades after totaling two game-winning goals, including both scores in Pepperdine's 2-0 victory over eventual national champion Portland.

Sophomore goalkeeper Anna Picarelli enjoyed a solid rookie campaign last year and received honorable mention All-WCC recognition after starting the final nine matches of the year, registering an 8-1-0 record, 4.5 shutouts and a school-record 0.66 goals-against average.

Swanson is expected anchor Pepperdine's backfield along with senior defender Mary Stuart. Sophomore Daniella Bosio, who saw significant playing time as a rookie last year, is expected to play a vital role this fall.

Others expected to compete for playing time in the back for the Waves include freshmen Morgan Applegate (San Antonio, TX / Alamo Heights HS), Jennifer Brewer (La Mirada, CA / La Mirada HS), Ashlee Doi (Mililani, HI / Mililani HS), Caitlin Mitchell (San Carlos, CA / Notre Dame HS) and Courtney Nelson (Alamo, CA / Monte Vista HS).

Brewer possesses versatility that will enable her to eventually be a possible starter as a back, midfielder or forward. Nelson was a member of the Pleasanton Rage U-17 national championship team.

Sophomore April Pettigrew returns as a starter in the midfield, along with senior Janelle Hillseth, juniors Jenna Ainsworth and Maytal Shvartz, and sophomores Kelsey Quane, and Lisa Steepleton.

Ainsworth, who appeared in 16 matches, totaled 12 points before suffering a torn anterior cruciate ligament in her right knee against Santa Clara on October 25 that required season-ending surgery.

Shvartz, who saw action in six matches while battling injuries, can also be utilized in the back.

The midfield position will be further bolstered by the addition of junior transfer Diana Sanguinetti

While at Long Beach State, Sanguinetti was a two-time All-Big West Conference selection, earning first team accolades in 2001 and honorable mention in 2002.

Pepperdine, which has the potential to be an explosive and high-scoring team, returns its top four scorers from last year in Fodor, Pavoni, Ubaldi and Woods.

The foursome combined for 101 points and 37 of the Waves' 55 goals in 2002.

Freshmen Lindsey Redlin (Reseda, CA / Chatsworth HS) and Candice Reeves (Mansfield, TX / Mansfield HS) will add additional depth to the forward position.

Picarelli will see the majority of the time in goal and will be backed up by freshman Loretta Younkin (Woodland Hills, CA / Chaminade HS).

"After the success we had last year, the coaching staff and players are very anxious to get the season underway," Ward said. "We have a lot of confidence coming into this year and know that we will face additional challenges as a result of the success we had last year and a very competitive schedule."

Pepperdine opens its 19-match schedule on August 29 when it puts an 11-match home undefeated streak on the line when it hosts UC Irvine at Tari Frahm Rokus Field beginning at 3 p.m.

Highlighting Pepperdine's nine-match home schedule are contests against perennial national power and local rival UCLA (August 31) and defending national champion and WCC rival Portland (October 24).

The Waves' road schedule includes contests against nationally-ranked Stanford (September 7) and WCC rival Santa Clara (October 19).

Pepperdine's schedule includes four non-conference matches against opponents (Auburn, Stanford, UCLA and Wake Forest) who reached the 2002 NCAA Tournament, plus four contests against WCC foes (Loyola Marymount, Portland, San Diego and Santa Clara) that advanced to post-season play.

The 64-team NCAA Championships begin with first and second round contests on November 16 and 18 with the College Cup scheduled for December 5 and 7 in Cary, North Carolina.