Waves Battle LMU for WCC Title on Sunday
10/26/2016 12:00:00 AM | Women's Soccer
This Week: The No. 15 Pepperdine women's soccer team enters the home stretch of the regular season with a chance to lock up a West Coast Conference title and berth in the NCAA Tournament on Sunday at home against Loyola Marymount. Pepperdine will also honor its six seniors at the game.
Game #18: Sunday (Oct. 30) at Tari Frahm Rokus Field in Malibu, Calif.: Pepperdine (11-3-3, 6-0-1) vs. Loyola Marymount (10-4-3, 5-2-0) at 1 p.m.
Multimedia: Sunday's games will be streamed live on TheW.tv. A link to live stats will be available at pepperdinewaves.com. Fans can also follow @WavesSoccer on Twitter for live updates.
Series vs. LMU: The Waves are 12-7-5 all-time against LMU since the teams first played back in 1993. The teams have split their last four meetings, with LMU winning 1-0 in overtime last season. Pepperdine won the previous two meetings.
Last Week: Pepperdine went 2-0 last week, picking up two big wins at home to help stay on track in their quest for a WCC title. The Waves beat Santa Clara 2-1 on Friday and then downed San Francisco 1-0 thanks to a late goal by Taylor Alvarado on Sunday.
Senior Day: The Waves will honor their six graduating seniors before Sunday's kickoff. Taylor Alvarado, Rylee Baisden, Rachael Collins, Kristen Rodriguez, Meghan Schoen and Hannah Seabert will all be playing their final regular season game at Tari Frahm Rokus Field on Sunday.
On The Line: There is plenty on the line between LMU and Pepperdine on Sunday, with LMU sitting in second place, four points back of the Waves in the WCC standings. A win will secure the Waves' third ever conference title and will secure the program's ninth NCAA Tournament berth.
Stellar Defense: The Waves have allowed one goal in their seven WCC games so far this season. After a scoreless draw at Portland, the Waves shutout their next four opponents in victories. Santa Clara's goal last week snapped a 606 scoreless minute streak. The Waves are second in the WCC and 24th in the NCAA with 0.71 goals allowed, and their 10 shutouts are tied for 13th in the nation and first in the WCC.
Seabert Record Watch: Hannah Seabert is chasing the Pepperdine all-time saves record held by Anna Picarelli (319), currently sitting at 317 saves for her career. Seabert is also 2 wins back of the all-time goalkeeper wins record with 45 for her career, chasing Roxanne Barker's 47 victories. She also has an outside chance at the solo shutout record, with her 27 shutouts sitting five back of Picarelli's 32.
Rylee Baisden: Rylee Baisden has been the Waves' offensive leader this year, leading the team with six goals and five assists for a team-high 17 points. She is fifth in the WCC in points. Baisden picked up her second WCC Player of the Week award after scoring a goal and an assist last week.
Rankings: The Waves moved to No. 15 in the NSCAA Coaches Poll after a 2-0 week. Pepperdine jumped in every other poll as well, moving to No. 19 on Top Drawer Soccer, No. 23 on Soccer America and No. 17 on Hero Sports. The Waves are also 29th in RPI, second best in the WCC.
NCAA Tournament History: 2014 was the Waves' eighth trip to the NCAA Tournament and third in the last five years. The Waves have gone as far as the Sweet 16 three times in their history (‘02, ‘05, ‘14). 2014 was the third time the Waves have hosted a first-round game as well. It was the first time the Waves have advanced out of the first round when playing at home and the first time in program history Pepperdine has advanced on a shootout. It was the fifth time overall that the Waves have advanced out of the first round.
Wave in Rio: Former Pepperdine goalkeeper Roxanne Barker made her second trip to the Olympics when she competed for her native South Africa this summer in Rio. Barker and RSA went 0-2-1 in Rio, but closed the tournament with a clean sheet against Brazil.
Hall of Fame: Waves alum Anna Picarelli was inducted into the Pepperdine Hall of Fame this year. Picarelli Played four seasons (2002-05), helping the team to the program's first WCC title, two NCAA Sweet 16 appearances and four NCAA Tournament appearances. She was a three-time All-WCC honoree (2004 and 2005 second team, 2002 honorable mention) and ended her career as Pepperdine's career leader in saves (319), save percentage (.846), goals-against average (0.81) and shutouts (32). Picarelli went to Italy to play professionally, winning two Italian National Cups and playing in the European Champions League. She made the Italian National Team and played in the 2009 European Championships and in qualifying for the 2010 World Cup. Picarelli is the second soccer play to be inducted.
About Pepperdine: Pepperdine boasts a one-of-a-kind athletic department with unprecedented success for a school of its size. The Waves have won NCAA Division I championships in five different men's sports — one of just 17 schools to have accomplished this feat — and nine overall. Of this elite group, Pepperdine has the smallest undergraduate enrollment, is the only school without football and is the only university that has not been affiliated with a "major" conference. The Waves have won a total of 25 team or individual national championships in their history. Pepperdine has also earned the Division I-AAA All-Sports Trophy, an award based on postseason success that's given to the top non-football school, three times (most recently in 2011-12). Located in scenic Malibu, Calif., the university overlooks the Pacific Ocean and its campus and athletic facilities are regularly voted among the nation's most beautiful. Pepperdine, which is affiliated with the Church of Christ, ranks #50 overall on U.S. News and World Report's list of America's best colleges.
