The Waves entered their season opener with high hopes, but a 3‑1 defeat at the hands of Baylor left them with a 2‑1‑2 record. Baylor, already receiving votes in the national Top 25, used early pressure to take control.
Key moments
Six minutes in, Kyra Murphy’s blocked shot fell to Julia Quinonez, who netted her fourth goal of the campaign to put Pepperdine ahead. The lead was short‑lived; a red card to Emjae Soriano reduced the Waves to ten players, and Baylor responded with two quick goals before halftime.
Despite out‑shooting Baylor with six corners and four shots on target, Pepperdine could not recover the deficit. The match ended with Baylor’s third goal, sealing a 3‑1 victory.
Next up, the Waves head back to California to meet No. 17 UCLA on Friday night at 7 p.m. The program’s long‑term success under coach Tim Ward includes 14 NCAA tournament appearances and five West Coast Conference titles, a legacy reflected in a career record of 321‑159‑79.