Bulldogs host No. 20 Pepperdine for first time in five years

Friday, August 26

Fresno, Calif.

7 p.m. PT

Fresno State

Pepperdine

Photo by: Keith Kountz

Bulldogs host No. 20 Pepperdine for first time in five years

8/24/2016 8:15:00 AM | Women's Soccer

All Fresno State women’s soccer home matches include free admission and parking in the Red Lot

By: Jason Kelm / Communications Assistant

FRESNO, Calif. – The Fresno State women's soccer team hosts No. 20 Pepperdine for the first time in five years on Friday night at 7 p.m. PT at the Fresno State Soccer and Lacrosse Field. This is the first nationally ranked team the Bulldogs have faced since No. 7 North Carolina last season and the first ranked opponent in Fresno since No. 23 Santa Clara in 2013.

The match will air live on the Mountain West Network and the Red Wave can expect an evening filled with Social Media Madness as many prizes will be given away through social media contests throughout the game. All Fresno State women's soccer home matches include free admission and parking in the Red Lot.

The Bulldogs (0-2) head into Friday's match coming off opening-weekend losses to UC Santa Barbara (3-2) and Bakersfield (4-2). The Waves (2-0) had a strong showing last weekend, defeating then-No. 20 Arizona (3-1) and Kentucky (3-0) at home.

The Fresno State offense is led by 2015 All-MW second-team junior forward Myra Delgadillo, who leads the team with two goals, both scored against Bakersfield on Sunday. Freshman striker Julia Glaser has taken the most shots (8) for the Bulldogs, but has yet to find the back of the net.

In the match against UC Santa Barbara last Friday, junior Sara Jo Ciapponi, Fresno State's Student-Athlete of the Week, scored her first collegiate goal with less than five minutes remaining in regulation to send the game into overtime. Freshmen Sydni Lunt and Kasidee Wiley also connected for a goal, as Lunt sent a header in off a corner kick from Wiley.

As far as protecting the net for the Bulldogs, redshirt freshman Alex Best has started both games, while sophomore Nicole Theroux has come in at halftime to finish them. Best has recorded three saves with a 4.00 goals against average, while Theroux has notched three saves with a 2.65 GAA. Both goalkeepers are 0-1 on the season.

Pepperdine is led by senior forward Rylee Baisden, who was named the West Coast Conference Player of the Week on Monday after scoring three goals and dishing out two assists over the weekend. In the net for the Waves is senior goalkeeper Hannah Seabert, who has 11 saves with a 0.51 goals against average.

Fresno State Opponent History

vs. No. 20 Pepperdine (2-0) (Fri., Aug. 26, 2016, 7 p.m. PT) – 2015: 8-9-2, 3-6-0 WCC
All-time: Pepperdine leads 3-1-1
In Fresno: Fresno State leads 1-0-1
Under Zwaschka: Pepperdine leads 2-0-1
Last meeting: Pepperdine 3, Fresno State 1 (9/22/2013 – Malibu, Calif.)
Last meeting in Fresno: Tied 1-1 (9/25/2011)
Last Fresno State win: Fresno State 2, Pepperdine 0 (8/25/2000 – Fresno, Calif.)

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