Women’s Soccer Hosts Arizona in Senior Day Match

MALIBU, Calif. – Pepperdine women's soccer (3-2-2) hosts their final home non-conference match against the Arizona Wildcats (3-3-1) in a matinee Senior Day match Sunday at 12 p.m.

The Waves grabbed their first road win of the season, shutting out the Fresno State Bulldogs 4-0 Thursday night.
Freshman Fiona McCormick notched her first goal and first brace of the season, scoring alongside Julia Quinonez and Sam Hosford.

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.
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 five goals through seven matches, earning herself the WCC offensive player of the week award in the opening week.
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 10 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.
Starting in three matches with appearances in all six this year, freshman Kate Ryan is the second leading scorer on the squad with two goals.
With a .750 on goal percentage, Ryan has proved to be an offensive threat whenever she is on the field.
Adding onto the freshmen class, Sam Hosford and Fiona McCormick have scored multiple goals for the Waves this season as well.
With one of the hardest nonconference schedules in the NCAA, Pepperdine stacked the front end of the 2026 slate.
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 WITH ARIZONA

Overall, the Waves are 12-1-2 against the Wildcats.
The sole loss against Arizona came in 1999, dropping a 0-1 result on the road.
Most recently, Julia Quinonez, Kyra Murphy, and Alex Pendleton scored in the 2025 meeting, resulting in a 3-0 win in Tucson.
In Malibu, Pepperdine is 5-0-1 with the only tie coming in 2024.

SCOUTING THE WILDCATS

Sitting at 3-3-1, Arizona is coming off a 3-0 win against Northern Arizona at home.
On the road this year, the Wildcats are 1-1-1 with the win coming at former WCC foe Gonzaga 2-1.
Three Wildcats have scored multiple times this year, accounting for six of the team's nine goals.
Sophia Cortes-browne has started every game in goal this season with a 1.25 GAA.

Sunday afternoon's match, which doubles as the mental health awareness match, will have mental health pins at the entrance to the field, with programming for senior day beginning at approximately 11:45 a.m. The match will be available on ESPN+ (subscription required) with live stats available at www.pepperdinewaves.com.
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 323-160-80.
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.

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Players Mentioned

Sam Hosford

Peyton Leonard

Fiona McCormick

Jillian Medvecky

Kyra Murphy

Alex Pendleton

Julia Quinonez

Kate Ryan

Lily Stewart

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