Thursday, September 16
Fort Worth, Texas
5:00 p.m. PT
Pepperdine University
at
TCU
Devyn Gilfoy
Photo by: Ron Hall
#9 Women's Soccer Readies for Big Trip to Texas
9/14/2021 3:11:00 PM | Women's Soccer
MALIBU, California — Non-conference play comes to an end for the #9 Pepperdine women's soccer team as the Waves take a trip to the Lone Star State for two big matchups against #5 TCU and Texas A&M. Joelle Anderson was named the WCC Offensive Player of the Week for the second week in a row.
MATCH #9 — Thursday (Sept. 16) at Garvey-Rosenthal Soccer Stadium in Fort Worth, Texas: #9 Pepperdine (7-1-0) at #5 TCU (7-0-0) at 7 p.m. CT / 5 p.m. PT.
MATCH #10 — Sunday (Sept. 19) at Ellis Field in College Station, Texas: #9 Pepperdine at Texas A&M (4-2-1, plays at Kentucky on Friday) at 1:30 p.m. CT / 11:30 a.m. PT.
WATCH/ONLINE — Both matches can be watched online via ESPN+. The TCU game will be on Big 12 Now and the Texas A&M contest will be on the SEC Network. Links to broadcasts and live stats can be found at PepperdineWaves.com.
OPPONENTS — Pepperdine is 2-0-0 all-time against TCU. The Waves won 3-0 at home in 2002 and 3-2 away in 2005 ... Pepperdine is 1-1-1 all-time against Texas A&M. The Waves won in their only previous trip to College Station, 3-1, in 2013. The Aggies won 1-0 in 2017 in San Diego. In 2019, the two teams played to a scoreless draw in Malibu.
LAST WEEK — The Waves easily handled a pair of Big West foes at home, beating UC San Diego 4-1 and UC Santa Barbara 3-0. Pepperdine outshot the two opponents by a total of 45-6. Carlee Giammona, Joelle Anderson, Devyn Gilfoy and Shelby Little scored against the Toreros, and Trinity Watson had two assists. Against the Gauchos, Anderson had a goal and an assist and Watson and Calista Reyes also scored.
NOTABLES — Pepperdine's 7-1-0 start is its best since 2005 (7-0-1) ... The Waves have won their first five road games for only the second time in program history (in 2003, Pepperdine won its first five before losing the sixth) ... Continuing a trend that began in the spring, the Waves have outshot all eight opponents this season ... Carlee Giammona tied a school record with three assists against Vanderbilt.
RANKINGS — The Waves have had a few big swings in the first few United Soccer Coaches polls, going from receiving votes in the preseason, all the way up to #8 after the first week (the team's highest ranking since 2014), then to #23. They've moved up the last two weeks, going to #13 and #9.
HONORS — Joelle Anderson has been named to the MAC Hermann Trophy watch list for the second straight season ... Anderson received the WCC Offensive Player of the Week award and Top Drawer Soccer's National Player of the Week award on September 6-7 after scoring a golden goal at Lipscomb and recording a goal and assist at Vanderbilt ... Anderson received her second WCC Offensive Player of the Week award in a row on September 13 after a goal against UCSD and a goal and an assist against UCSB ... Zoe Clevely received the WCC Defensive Player of the Week award on August 23 (the third of her career) after the season-opening shutouts against #14 USC and SDSU ... Trinity Watson has been named to the Top Drawer Soccer Team of the Week twice. The first one came on August 24 after the two opening shutouts and scoring a goal on a penalty kick. The second was on September 14 after she had two assists against UCSD and a goal against UCSB.
ANDERSON — Back in January, Joelle Anderson was picked in the third round of the 2021 NWSL Draft by the Houston Dash. But she decided to stick around Malibu for a little while longer before she joins the pros. The four-time All-WCC pick (twice on the first team) and three-time All-West Region honoree is utilizing a COVID-19 redshirt year to play a fifth season at Pepperdine. All-time at Pepperdine, she ranks fourth in goals (29), tied for fourth in game-winning goals (12), fifth in points (76) and tied for sixth in assists (18). Anderson has scored a goal in four consecutive games (the school record is five by Debbie Ford in 1993 and Jennifer Peterson in 1996).
ROSTER NUMBERS — The Waves' 27-player roster breakdown is one graduate transfer, seven seniors, four juniors, eight sophomores, two redshirt freshmen and five true freshmen. Pepperdine has seven returning starters and 19 letterwinners back. Returning players accounted for 76% of last season's goals (19/25) and 59% of the assists (10/17). The Waves will be rebuilding their defense, as three starting backs and a defensive midfielder graduated. Three Waves — Joelle Anderson, Devyn Gilfoy and Calista Reyes — are back for a fifth season after utilizing COVID-19 redshirt years.
SCHEDULE — All six of Pepperdine's 10 non-conference opponents that saw action in spring 2021 posted winning records, and four of them went to the NCAA Tournament (the four Big West teams opted out of the 2020-21 season). The combined winning percentage of the six teams was .698 (55-21-10). Only three of Pepperdine's 10 non-conference games will be at home, and just seven of 19 overall.
WCC — The Waves were picked to finish third in the WCC preseason coaches poll. The order went as follows: Santa Clara, BYU, Pepperdine, Gonzaga, Portland, Saint Mary's, San Francisco, Loyola Marymount, San Diego and Pacific ... Joelle Anderson and Trinity Watson, who both made the All-WCC first team each of the last two seasons, were picked to the preseason All-WCC team again.
LAST SEASON — The COVID-19 pandemic delayed the fall 2020 season to spring 2021. An abbreviated schedule saw Pepperdine go 6-5-1 overall and finish fourth in the WCC. Four of the five losses came against ranked opponents. Joelle Anderson and Trinity Watson repeated on the All-WCC first team. Other returning players honored by the league were two second teamers (Leyla McFarland and Tori Waldeck) and a league-high three WCC All-Freshman team recipients (Waldeck, Julianna Duckett and Victoria Romero).
WAVES IN THE PROS — Several Waves have made their marks professionally. Lynn Williams is a three-time NWSL champion (2016 Western New York Flash, 2018 and 2019 North Carolina Courage). In 2016, she was also the NWSL MVP and Golden Boot winner. As a member of the U.S. National Team, she's earned 40 caps and scored 12 goals. She won a bronze medal at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. Bri Visalli, who has been part of the U.S. U-23 team, played in England for a couple of seasons before joining the NWSL's Houston Dash in 2020. In January 2019, the Waves had two NWSL Draft selections for the first time in Hailey Harbison (first round to North Carolina) and Michelle Maemone (third round to Utah). Rylee Baisden was named the 2019 Player of the Year in Australia's NPLW and joined the North Carolina Courage in 2020. The Waves have produced two Olympians (Williams and Roxanne Barker, South Africa, 2012 and 2016) and a Women's World Cup participant (Anisa Guajardo, Mexico, 2015). Anna Picarelli played for Italy and Kristi DeVert was the first Wave to suit up with the USWNT.
ABOUT PEPPERDINE UNIVERSITY — 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 18 schools to have accomplished this feat — and 10 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 26 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, California, 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 #49 overall on U.S. News and World Report's list of America's best colleges.
MATCH #9 — Thursday (Sept. 16) at Garvey-Rosenthal Soccer Stadium in Fort Worth, Texas: #9 Pepperdine (7-1-0) at #5 TCU (7-0-0) at 7 p.m. CT / 5 p.m. PT.
MATCH #10 — Sunday (Sept. 19) at Ellis Field in College Station, Texas: #9 Pepperdine at Texas A&M (4-2-1, plays at Kentucky on Friday) at 1:30 p.m. CT / 11:30 a.m. PT.
WATCH/ONLINE — Both matches can be watched online via ESPN+. The TCU game will be on Big 12 Now and the Texas A&M contest will be on the SEC Network. Links to broadcasts and live stats can be found at PepperdineWaves.com.
OPPONENTS — Pepperdine is 2-0-0 all-time against TCU. The Waves won 3-0 at home in 2002 and 3-2 away in 2005 ... Pepperdine is 1-1-1 all-time against Texas A&M. The Waves won in their only previous trip to College Station, 3-1, in 2013. The Aggies won 1-0 in 2017 in San Diego. In 2019, the two teams played to a scoreless draw in Malibu.
LAST WEEK — The Waves easily handled a pair of Big West foes at home, beating UC San Diego 4-1 and UC Santa Barbara 3-0. Pepperdine outshot the two opponents by a total of 45-6. Carlee Giammona, Joelle Anderson, Devyn Gilfoy and Shelby Little scored against the Toreros, and Trinity Watson had two assists. Against the Gauchos, Anderson had a goal and an assist and Watson and Calista Reyes also scored.
NOTABLES — Pepperdine's 7-1-0 start is its best since 2005 (7-0-1) ... The Waves have won their first five road games for only the second time in program history (in 2003, Pepperdine won its first five before losing the sixth) ... Continuing a trend that began in the spring, the Waves have outshot all eight opponents this season ... Carlee Giammona tied a school record with three assists against Vanderbilt.
RANKINGS — The Waves have had a few big swings in the first few United Soccer Coaches polls, going from receiving votes in the preseason, all the way up to #8 after the first week (the team's highest ranking since 2014), then to #23. They've moved up the last two weeks, going to #13 and #9.
HONORS — Joelle Anderson has been named to the MAC Hermann Trophy watch list for the second straight season ... Anderson received the WCC Offensive Player of the Week award and Top Drawer Soccer's National Player of the Week award on September 6-7 after scoring a golden goal at Lipscomb and recording a goal and assist at Vanderbilt ... Anderson received her second WCC Offensive Player of the Week award in a row on September 13 after a goal against UCSD and a goal and an assist against UCSB ... Zoe Clevely received the WCC Defensive Player of the Week award on August 23 (the third of her career) after the season-opening shutouts against #14 USC and SDSU ... Trinity Watson has been named to the Top Drawer Soccer Team of the Week twice. The first one came on August 24 after the two opening shutouts and scoring a goal on a penalty kick. The second was on September 14 after she had two assists against UCSD and a goal against UCSB.
ANDERSON — Back in January, Joelle Anderson was picked in the third round of the 2021 NWSL Draft by the Houston Dash. But she decided to stick around Malibu for a little while longer before she joins the pros. The four-time All-WCC pick (twice on the first team) and three-time All-West Region honoree is utilizing a COVID-19 redshirt year to play a fifth season at Pepperdine. All-time at Pepperdine, she ranks fourth in goals (29), tied for fourth in game-winning goals (12), fifth in points (76) and tied for sixth in assists (18). Anderson has scored a goal in four consecutive games (the school record is five by Debbie Ford in 1993 and Jennifer Peterson in 1996).
ROSTER NUMBERS — The Waves' 27-player roster breakdown is one graduate transfer, seven seniors, four juniors, eight sophomores, two redshirt freshmen and five true freshmen. Pepperdine has seven returning starters and 19 letterwinners back. Returning players accounted for 76% of last season's goals (19/25) and 59% of the assists (10/17). The Waves will be rebuilding their defense, as three starting backs and a defensive midfielder graduated. Three Waves — Joelle Anderson, Devyn Gilfoy and Calista Reyes — are back for a fifth season after utilizing COVID-19 redshirt years.
SCHEDULE — All six of Pepperdine's 10 non-conference opponents that saw action in spring 2021 posted winning records, and four of them went to the NCAA Tournament (the four Big West teams opted out of the 2020-21 season). The combined winning percentage of the six teams was .698 (55-21-10). Only three of Pepperdine's 10 non-conference games will be at home, and just seven of 19 overall.
WCC — The Waves were picked to finish third in the WCC preseason coaches poll. The order went as follows: Santa Clara, BYU, Pepperdine, Gonzaga, Portland, Saint Mary's, San Francisco, Loyola Marymount, San Diego and Pacific ... Joelle Anderson and Trinity Watson, who both made the All-WCC first team each of the last two seasons, were picked to the preseason All-WCC team again.
LAST SEASON — The COVID-19 pandemic delayed the fall 2020 season to spring 2021. An abbreviated schedule saw Pepperdine go 6-5-1 overall and finish fourth in the WCC. Four of the five losses came against ranked opponents. Joelle Anderson and Trinity Watson repeated on the All-WCC first team. Other returning players honored by the league were two second teamers (Leyla McFarland and Tori Waldeck) and a league-high three WCC All-Freshman team recipients (Waldeck, Julianna Duckett and Victoria Romero).
WAVES IN THE PROS — Several Waves have made their marks professionally. Lynn Williams is a three-time NWSL champion (2016 Western New York Flash, 2018 and 2019 North Carolina Courage). In 2016, she was also the NWSL MVP and Golden Boot winner. As a member of the U.S. National Team, she's earned 40 caps and scored 12 goals. She won a bronze medal at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. Bri Visalli, who has been part of the U.S. U-23 team, played in England for a couple of seasons before joining the NWSL's Houston Dash in 2020. In January 2019, the Waves had two NWSL Draft selections for the first time in Hailey Harbison (first round to North Carolina) and Michelle Maemone (third round to Utah). Rylee Baisden was named the 2019 Player of the Year in Australia's NPLW and joined the North Carolina Courage in 2020. The Waves have produced two Olympians (Williams and Roxanne Barker, South Africa, 2012 and 2016) and a Women's World Cup participant (Anisa Guajardo, Mexico, 2015). Anna Picarelli played for Italy and Kristi DeVert was the first Wave to suit up with the USWNT.
ABOUT PEPPERDINE UNIVERSITY — 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 18 schools to have accomplished this feat — and 10 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 26 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, California, 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 #49 overall on U.S. News and World Report's list of America's best colleges.
Players Mentioned
M/F
/ Women's Soccer
GK
/ Women's Soccer
M
/ Women's Soccer
M
/ Women's Soccer
F
/ Women's Soccer
M
/ Women's Soccer
F
/ Women's Soccer
D/F
/ Women's Soccer
D/F
/ Women's Soccer
M/F
/ Women's Soccer
D/F
/ Women's Soccer
