Cougs Visit No. 13 Pepperdine Wednesday for WCC Clash

KICKOFF NOTES
Wazzu travels to California to face the No. 13 Pepperdine Waves, Wednesday, Oct. 2, in Malibu, California for the Cougs’ inaugural WCC road match. Kickoff is scheduled for 3 p.m. PT at Tari Frahm Rokus Field.

Washington State and Pepperdine have met six times previously, with the Cougs holding a 3-2-1 advantage and a 3-game unbeaten streak against the Waves. The last three meetings have come in neutral site events in Hawaii, while the last Malibu meeting between the clubs dates back to Sept. 14, 2008 when Wazzu last dropped a result to Pepperdine. Wednesday’s match marks the first conference meeting between the programs and the first matchup outside the month of September.

Last time on the pitch the Cougs defeated San Diego, 1-0, for their inaugural WCC win, Saturday, Sept. 28 in Pullman. WSU freshman Kendall Campbell scored a 42nd-minute game-winner and Wazzu earned its third shutout in the last four games.

All-time against nationally-ranked opponents, the WSU program is 45-123-32, a record that falls to 15-72-12 when playing on a top-25 opponent’s field. Pepperdine marks the third top-15 opponent of the season and third ranked match away from Pullman after a 2-0 defeat at then-No. 2 Stanford, Sept. 1 and a 0-0 tie at then-No. 7 Utah State, Sept. 19.

Grayson Lynch played her 88th career match Saturday against San Diego, moving within four matches of third all-time by a WSU field player. If Lynch plays all the remaining regular season matches, she will sit second in all-time WSU matches played with 97 behind Sydney Pulver (98).

In Saturday’s shutout win over San Diego, Nadia Cooper earned her 18th career shutout and 30th career win. A two-time WCC Defensive Player of the Week, Cooper is tied for third in Cougar history for GK wins and fourth in WSU career shutouts.

The Pac-12 Conference formally introduced Gonzaga University as the eighth member of its 2026-27 expansion plans, Tuesday morning, joining Boise State, Colorado State, Fresno State, San Diego State, and Utah State. Wazzu and Oregon State are currently operating as members of the Pac-12 Conference as part of a NCAA two-year grace period and will continue to do so for the 2025-26 academic season before the six new members officially join, July 1, 2026.

On the horizon, the Cougars will remain in southern California to face Loyola Marymount, Saturday, Oct. 5, at 7 p.m….