Women’s Soccer Opens Conference Play on the Road

PORTLAND, Ore. – Pepperdine women's soccer (4-3-2) heads up to Portland (4-5) to open the conference campaign against the Pilots Saturday at 3 p.m.

The Waves closed out non-conference play with a 0-2 loss at San Diego State.
It is only the second time Pepperdine has been shut out this year, last occuring at No. 18 UCLA.

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 seven goals through the nonconference slate, earning herself two WCC offensive player of the week honors so far this season, garnering the most recent one for her three goals versus Fresno State and Arizona.
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 11 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 128 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.
All tied for our second highest scorer, freshman Kate Ryan, Sam Hosford, and Fiona McCormick have all tallied two goals so far this season.
Three freshmen have earned the start in the last two matches, with Ryan and Hosford joining defender Emjae Soriano.
With a 4-3-2 record, all three Pepperdine losses have come to teams in the top 60, with two of the three teams in the top 20 RPI.
Posting a 3-0-1 record in Malibu, the Waves remain undefeated at home heading into the conference season.

SERIES HISTORY WITH PORTLAND

Overall, the Waves are 11-18-3 against the Pilots.
Pepperdine is 4-10-2 on the road, with the last win coming in 2024 with a 2-0 victory.
Last season, the Pilots shut out the Waves 1-0 in Malibu.
As the fourth match of a five-match home stretch, Portland has been home since Sept. 7
The Waves have not lost back-to-back games at the hands of the Pilots since the 2012-13 seasons.

SCOUTING THE PILOTS

Sitting at 4-5, Portland is coming off a 2-0 victory against UC Davis.
Portland has evenly matched their opponents this year with a total of eight goals on the season.
Violet Rademacher and Tayvi Khann are the two Pilots with multiple goals on the squad, notching two a piece so far.
Sophia Hills has played every minute for the Pilots, putting together a GAA of .90 this season.

The West Coast Conference slate will kickoff for the Waves Saturday at 3 p.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
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Players Mentioned

Sam Hosford

Peyton Leonard

Fiona McCormick

Jillian Medvecky

Kyra Murphy

Julia Quinonez

Kate Ryan

Emjae Soriano

Lily Stewart

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