On October 31, 2026, the Pepperdine University women’s soccer team earned a 2-2 draw against the University of San Diego at their home field in Malibu, California. This result clinched Pepperdine’s first-ever berth in the inaugural West Coast Conference (WCC) Women’s Soccer Tournament.
Pepperdine improved their overall record to 9-4-4 and 5-1-2 in WCC play, while San Diego’s record dropped to 5-8-4 overall and 2-4-2 in conference. San Diego opened the scoring in the 62nd minute, but Pepperdine responded quickly with Layla Simon scoring in the 64th minute off an assist from Peyton Leonard. Ariana Salvador gave Pepperdine the lead in the 76th minute with an assist from Alex Pendleton. San Diego equalized again in the 81st minute, resulting in the final draw.
Goalkeeper Jillian Medvecky played a pivotal role, making two saves in the first half to keep the match scoreless until the second half. Head coach Tim Ward expressed pride in the team’s performance, highlighting their character and resilience throughout the match as well as their achievement in securing the tournament spot. “Although we tied the game, I am really proud of our women for qualifying and sealing our first ever appearance in the inaugural WCC Women’s soccer tournament,” Ward stated.
The Waves will conclude their regular season on November 7 with an away game at Saint Mary’s, scheduled to kick off at 1 p.m. PT. The match will be streamed live on ESPN+ ahead of the WCC postseason tournament.
CSB Take
Clinching a berth in the inaugural WCC Women’s Soccer Tournament marks a milestone for Pepperdine University’s women’s soccer program under Tim Ward’s experienced leadership. The team demonstrated strong resilience by rallying from behind twice to secure the tie against San Diego, showing the competitive edge needed in postseason play. With a solid conference record, the Waves enter the upcoming tournament with momentum and the potential to further elevate their program’s standing.
Source: Original report
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