Saint Mary’s College of California will host the Pepperdine Waves women’s soccer team on Saturday, November 7, 2026, at 1 p.m. at Saint Mary’s Stadium in Moraga, California. This West Coast Conference match carries significant playoff implications, as Saint Mary’s aims to secure the final spot in the inaugural WCC Tournament. Currently, the Gaels hold 13 points in the conference standings, trailing fourth-place Santa Clara by three points.
Saint Mary’s defense leads the WCC with a 0.56 goals-against average, ranking among the nation’s best. The Gaels enter this contest undefeated in their last two meetings with Pepperdine, including a 1-0 road upset in 2025. A victory on Saturday complemented by a Santa Clara loss could earn Saint Mary’s a postseason berth.
The day will also celebrate Senior Day, honoring five graduating players: forwards Brittany Holden, Maren Hoovel, Brooklyn Smith, defender Molly Silva, and senior goalkeeper Kate Plachy. Plachy ranks tied for third all-time in career wins among Gael goalkeepers with 26 and stands in the top three of the conference this season with a .833 save percentage and seven shutouts.
Offensively, senior forward Ashlyn Vaughn leads the team with nine goals, one goal shy of reaching double digits and marking the first back-to-back double-digit goal-scoring seasons for Saint Mary’s since the mid-1990s. Freshman forward Brianna Jurasek has contributed three game-winning goals and is nearing a milestone as the first Gael freshman since 2010 to score five goals in a season.
Pepperdine, the 2025 WCC champions, comes into the match tied for first in the conference. The Waves are led by senior forward Julia Quinonez, who leads the WCC in game-winning goals with five and has been named Offensive Player of the Week four times this season.
The game will be streamed live on ESPN+, and tickets are available at smcgaels.com/tickets. The Senior Day ceremony will take place prior to the 1 p.m. kickoff.
CSB Take
Saturday’s match is pivotal for the Saint Mary’s Gaels women’s soccer team as they strive to claim a spot in the inaugural West Coast Conference Tournament. With a nationally recognized defense and contributions from seasoned seniors and promising underclassmen, the Gaels have built momentum. Hosting a strong Pepperdine squad with recent championship success will be a stern test and could ultimately shape the Gaels’ postseason hopes. Honoring the seniors on Senior Day adds emotional significance to this critical encounter at home.
Source: Original report
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