Thursday, August 13
Malibu, Calif.
3:00 p.m. PT
Pepperdine University
vs
Colgate University
Women’s Soccer Opens 2026 Campaign Against Colgate
8/11/2026 4:16:00 PM | Women's Soccer
MALIBU, Calif. – Pepperdine women's soccer begins the new season at home against Colgate Thursday afternoon at 3 p.m. Schedule magnets and ring pops will be given away at the gate to celebrate the 2025 West Coast Conference champions.
"I think what is really exciting about Team 34 heading into the season is that we have really talented women who now have their time to shine," Head Coach Tim Ward said.
GAME NOTES
SERIES HISTORY
SCOUTING THE RAIDERS
With a scheduled kickoff for 3 p.m., the match will be streamed on ESPN+ (subscription required) and live stats will be available at www.pepperdinewaves.com. Come early to Tari Frahm as there will be a short celebration pre-match to recognize the 2025 West Cost Conference champions.
ABOUT PEPPERDINE WOMEN'S SOCCER
Pepperdine women's soccer has been competitive since season one in 1993. As just the third head coach in the program's history, Tim Ward has led the Waves to 14 NCAA tournament appearances, winning the West Coast Conference five separate times and taking his squad to the round of 16 four times, most recently in 2021. With 24 winning seasons, Ward has proven he can lead consistently with excellence, garnering an overall record of 320-158-78.
TICKETS
For more information and to purchase tickets to upcoming home events, visit here.
FOLLOW
To stay up-to-date on the latest Pepperdine women's soccer news, follow the Waves on social media @PepperdineWSOC.
"I think what is really exciting about Team 34 heading into the season is that we have really talented women who now have their time to shine," Head Coach Tim Ward said.
- The Waves ended last season in the opening round of the NCAA Tournament against No. 8 UCLA.
- For just the second time in program history, Pepperdine secured back-to-back conference titles to earn a third-straight bid to the postseason.
GAME NOTES
- Unanimous among the WCC coaches poll, Pepperdine was picked to finish first in the conference this year.
- The trio of seniors: Peyton Leonard, Kyra Murphy, and Julia Quinonez were selected to the preseason all-conference team, the third year in a row the Waves have had three honorees make the squad.
- On their respective MAC Hermann Trophy positional players to watch, Leonard and Quinonez were recognized as returners who made the United Soccer Coaches All-West Region First Team last season.
- In the final year with no postseason tournament for the West Coast Conference, Pepperdine secured the title of conference champions for the second year in a row.
- Winning the title outright, it is the sixth conference championship for the Waves.
- The Waves have only won back-to-back titles one other time in 2016 and 2017, never doing so in three consecutive years.
- Over Tim Ward's 28 years of coaching, he has garnered over 300 wins and five WCC Coach of the Year awards, most recently in 2017.
- Throughout Ward's tenure, Pepperdine has earned six WCC titles with four NCAA Sweet 16 appearances and a total of 10 national team players.
- Bringing in eight freshmen, the Waves add Eva Awoyinka, Fiona McCormick, Sam Hosford, Addi Bartell, Kate Ryan, Sahaana Potti, Emjae Soriano, and Erin Ha to the roster for the 2026 season.
- Returning for her senior year, Peyton Leonard is one of the most well-rounded players on the 2026 roster for the Waves.
- A steady presence on defense, the Ladera Ranch, Calif. native is also a threat on offense, tallying four goals and three assists last season.
- Named to the Top Drawer Soccer Top 100 Players across the NCAA, the centerback came in at No. 60.
- As the WCC's top returning goal-scorer, Julia Quinonez buried 11 in the back of the net last season, tacking on four assists.
- Making the MAC Hermann Trophy Watchlist, the senior is one of 65 across the NCAA and just one of two in the West Coast Conference as the only Wave.
- As a fifth year, Kyra Murphy brings the most experience to the Waves this season with 70 matches played, including 41 starts.
- Totaling 11 goals and eight assists, the Riverside, Calif. native is a key piece to the midfield for Pepperdine on an underclassmen-heavy squad.
- Returning in goal for the Waves, junior Jillian Medvecky has started all but one match for the Waves throughout her two seasons, garnering a goals against average of 1.23, tallying 123 saves.
- With two returning on the backline as well, the Waves will have experience in the defensive third of the field.
- Senior Peyton Leonard and junior Lily Stewart have 83 starts between the two of them along with 10 goals.
- With one of the hardest nonconference schedules in the NCAA, Pepperdine stacked the front end of the 2026 slate.
- Early on, the Waves face cross-town rival USC (RV), before heading to Texas to take on #23 Texas Tech and (RV) Baylor before returning home, making a short stop at #9 UCLA along the way.
- Gearing up for the year, the Waves want to be battle-tested by the time it is time for West Coast Conference play.
SERIES HISTORY
- This will be the first meeting ever between the two programs.
SCOUTING THE RAIDERS
- Slated to finish third in the Patriot League this season, Colgate is coming off a 9-6-4 campaign, including 6-2-1 in conference.
- Senior goalie Ella Poppinga was awarded preseason Goalie of the Year by the Patriot League.
- Josie Tunney returns as the team's highest goal scorer, netting six last year with two assists with a .727 on goal shooting percentage.
- The Waves are the first of two matches for the Raiders on a west coast swing.
With a scheduled kickoff for 3 p.m., the match will be streamed on ESPN+ (subscription required) and live stats will be available at www.pepperdinewaves.com. Come early to Tari Frahm as there will be a short celebration pre-match to recognize the 2025 West Cost Conference champions.
ABOUT PEPPERDINE WOMEN'S SOCCER
Pepperdine women's soccer has been competitive since season one in 1993. As just the third head coach in the program's history, Tim Ward has led the Waves to 14 NCAA tournament appearances, winning the West Coast Conference five separate times and taking his squad to the round of 16 four times, most recently in 2021. With 24 winning seasons, Ward has proven he can lead consistently with excellence, garnering an overall record of 320-158-78.
TICKETS
For more information and to purchase tickets to upcoming home events, visit here.
FOLLOW
To stay up-to-date on the latest Pepperdine women's soccer news, follow the Waves on social media @PepperdineWSOC.
Players Mentioned
M
/ Women's Soccer
GK
/ Women's Soccer
D
/ Women's Soccer
F
/ Women's Soccer
D
/ Women's Soccer
M
/ Women's Soccer
GK
/ Women's Soccer
M
/ Women's Soccer
M
/ Women's Soccer
F
/ Women's Soccer
F
/ Women's Soccer
D/F
/ Women's Soccer
D
/ Women's Soccer
