Sunday, August 16
Malibu, Calif.
12:00 p.m. PT
Pepperdine University
vs
University of Southern California
Women’s Soccer Continues Homestand against RV USC
8/14/2026 3:41:00 PM | Women's Soccer
MALIBU, Calif. – Pepperdine women's soccer (1-0) will play match two of a three-match homestand Sunday afternoon at 12 p.m. against cross-town opponent USC, who received votes in this week's top 25 poll.
"[USC] has not only some of the best players in the country, but they also play some brilliant soccer," Head Coach Tim Ward said. "We are going to compete and do our very best to honor Pepperdine and all the men and women that love this place, especially the women that have played for our program."
GAME NOTES
SERIES HISTORY
SCOUTING THE TROJANS
With a scheduled kickoff for 12 p.m., the match will be streamed on ESPN+ (subscription required) and live stats will be available at www.pepperdinewaves.com. Malibu Soccer Academy campers are invited back for a campers reunion with free shaved ice available.
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.
"[USC] has not only some of the best players in the country, but they also play some brilliant soccer," Head Coach Tim Ward said. "We are going to compete and do our very best to honor Pepperdine and all the men and women that love this place, especially the women that have played for our program."
- The Waves opened the 2026 campaign with a convincing 3-1 win over the Colgate Raiders Thursday afternoon.
- Julia Quinonez recorded a brace while Kate Ryan scored her first collegiate goal in her first match, being the first freshman to do so since Tatum Wynalda in 2022.
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.
- On the other side of the field, head coach Tim Ward will be seeing his daughter, sophomore Charlotte Ward
- 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.
- Starting the season in a sprint, Julia Quinonez has already notched two goals this year, doing so in the season opener vs. Colgate.
- 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.
- Totalling 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
- All-time, the Waves are 7-10-1 against the Trojans.
- Last season, Pepperdine fell 2-3 in just the second match ever played in Rawlinson Stadium.
- In Malibu, the Waves sole victory over USC came in the inaugural year of the program in 1993.
SCOUTING THE TROJANS
- Starting the season 0-1, USC opened the season at home in a 1-3 loss to No. 3 Duke.
- Eleanor Morrissey scored the lone goal for the Trojans in their opening match.
- Losing the majority of their offense from last season, USC brought in 13 players, including seven freshmen named the No. 1 class of 2026 by Prep Soccer.
With a scheduled kickoff for 12 p.m., the match will be streamed on ESPN+ (subscription required) and live stats will be available at www.pepperdinewaves.com. Malibu Soccer Academy campers are invited back for a campers reunion with free shaved ice available.
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
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