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What 2 Watch 4
- Four squads secured a tally in the win column to start things off during our opening week of action.
CSUN, UC Davis, Long Beach State, and UC Irvine all picked up a victory to start the season. Cal Poly, Cal State Fullerton, and Hawai'i all notched at least one draw.
This week, Cal State Bakersfield kicks off week two around The Big West on the road against Weber State on Thursday at 6 p.m. Thursday features 11 matches on its tap, while Sunday's slate has nine on the docket. Key matchups this week include Long Beach State and UC Irvine taking on Washington, while Hawai'i closes out the week hosting Oregon.
- A total of 13 matches are set to air live on ESPN+ this week. Please check the listings here to watch your favorite Big West squad in action!
2025 Big West Women's Soccer Schedule
 
Pull Up to the Pitch
Cal Poly (0-0-2) — The Mustangs' season kicked off with back-to-back draws, showing fight in both outings. Senior captain Jessie Halladay led the charge in a 3-3 thriller at San Diego, scoring twice as CP took the lead three times before settling even. In Monday's home opener, CP battled (RV) BYU to a 2-2 result, with Annika Smith striking early and Bailey Bracha delivering a late equalizer. The Mustangs will face Fresno State this Thursday (7 p.m.) and will host Pacific this Sunday (1 p.m.).
Cal State Bakersfield (0-2-1) — CSUB fell in its first two contests by close 1-0 margins to begin the 2025 campaign. Sophomore defender Mya Clarke and senior midfielder Mya Fortun played all 180 minutes of action in the pair of contests. The 'Runners will remain on the road with another pair of road matches this week at Weber State and Idaho State on Thursday and Sunday.
Cal State Fullerton (0-0-1) — After only playing 16 minutes in its first match of the season at FGCU, that was cancelled due to weather, CSF held (RV) California to a scoreless tie in the team's first full outing. R-senior defender Taya Townsell led a Titan backline that only allowed five shots on goal, alongside goalkeeper Issac Ranson, who notched a clean sheet. CSF hits the road and will tango with Portland on Thursday at 7 p.m. before returning home to Titan Stadium to take on UTEP on Sunday at 5 p.m.
CSUN (1-0-1) — CSUN opened 2025 with a hard-fought 2-2 draw at Saint Mary's, rallying twice to even the match. Cailey Jackson scored in the first half before freshman Lia Peterson buried the equalizer in the 88th minute. The Matadors carried that momentum into Sunday, where sophomore Jordyn Canister's eighth-minute strike lifted CSUN to a 1-0 victory at San José State. The result marked Canister's first goal of the year and the team's first shutout of the season. CSUN will now embark on a three-match homestand, starting off with the likes of GCU and California Baptist on Thursday and Sunday, both a 7 p.m.
Long Beach State (1-1-0) — The Beach opened its season with a dramatic 2-1 victory over defending regular season champion Hawai'i, as freshman Natelle El Mokbel delivered the game-winner with just over two minutes remaining in the match. LBSU carried that momentum into Sunday's clash with No. 19 Texas, controlling possession and generating a shot advantage while holding an early lead. However, the Longhorns struck twice in the second half to escape George Allen Field with the win.
Hawai'i (0-1-1) — Preseason favorite UH women's soccer team dropped its season opener 2-1 at Long Beach State on Thursday, with Leila Kahoano netting an equalizer before the Beach struck late for the win. The Rainbow Wahine responded on Sunday at Pepperdine, battling back from a 2-0 deficit in the final 20 minutes to earn a 2-2 draw. Cate Sheahan sparked the rally with a header off a corner kick, and preseason team honoree Amber Gilbert followed with the equalizer minutes later in the 78th minute.
UC Davis (1-0-1) — UCD began play against Fresno State to a 1-1 draw behind Sydney Bushman's second-half strike. The Aggies followed with their first win under first-year head coach Kat Mertz on Sunday, topping Pacific 2-1 on the road. Ava Coverdale scored early before Genavieve Fontes netted the game-winner in the second half. Sarah Canavan found the feet of both goal scorers with assists on both tallies. UCD stays put at home for its lone match of the week versus San Jose State on Thursday at 7 p.m.
UC Irvine (1-1-0) — The Anteaters dominantly started 2025 with a 4-1 road win at GCU on Thursday, marking their fourth straight season-opening victory. Mia Colombini, Fiona Shin, Kori Pickelle, and Trinity Morales all found the back of the net in the convincing victory. UCI almost remained perfect before a late Arizona goal in the 89th minute dealt the 'Eaters their first loss despite a strong defensive effort. San Diego and Washington will be the UCI's next opponents on the road and then at home.
UC Riverside (0-2-1) — UCR opened a new era with a 0-2 setback at Idaho on Thursday, followed by another hard-fought 0-2 loss at Utah Tech on Sunday. The Highlanders showed grit with back-to-back scrappy defensive performances to begin the season and look ahead to hosting UTEP in their only match on Thursday at 7 p.m.
UC San Diego (0-1-0) — The Tritons nearly took down (RV) California to start the season behind Ava Tibor's two-tally performance. The freshman notched the first goal during the fourth minute and followed up in the 50th with the second score. UCSD stays put at Triton Stadium for a match with Northern Arizona on Thursday at 7 p.m. and will then take on UNLV to close the slate on Sunday at 2 p.m.
UC Santa Barbara (0-1-0) — For the third straight season, UCSB opened the season with a match against LMU. Caitlyn Simons found the equalizer and the sophomore's first career goal to knot the match in the 34th minute. LMU countered with a sealing score via penalty kick in the 89th minute to escape with the victory. The defending conference champions will play two matches at home against California Baptist (7 p.m.) and San Diego (1 p.m.) this week.
Weekly Highlights
- Sarah Canavan made an immediate impact for UC Davis during opening week, playing a key attacking role in both matches and tallying two assists in the Aggies' 2-1 win over Pacific, including the game-winner for Genavieve Fontes. The senior also registered a shot on goal in the season opener against Fresno State and enters week two as the Big West's assists leader, standing alone as the only player with multiple assists (2).
Jordyn Canister played a decisive role in the Matadors' 1-0-1 opening week, recording three points across both contests. She assisted the 88th-minute equalizer in a 2-2 draw at Saint Mary's before netting the game-winner in the eighth minute of a 1-0 victory at San José State. Canister totaled five shots, including three on target, across 97 minutes, with Sunday's goal marking her first of the season.
Mia Colombini sparked the attack in the Anteaters' opening weekend, tallying the senior's second career goal in the sixth minute on Thursday before adding an assist on the eventual game-winner for her first career three-point match. Colombini also created UCI's best chance in Sunday's narrow loss at Arizona, finishing the week with four shots, three on target.
Cherrie Cox made a strong return for the Beach, leading LBSU with three points across two matches. She assisted on the opener in a 2-1 win over Hawai'i and scored to give LBSU a first-half lead against No. 19 Texas, finishing the week with nine shots in her first action since 2023.
Keeper's Corner
- Riley Liebsack anchored CSUN in goal, recording a 1.00 GAA with six saves across two matches. The senior stopped three shots in a 2-2 draw at Saint Mary’s before posting her first shutout of the season and ninth of her career in a 1-0 win at San José State, protecting the lead for 82 minutes with three more saves.
Kennedy Justin recorded eight saves in 90 minutes of action during opening week. The sophomore tallied four stops in the first half at LBSU to keep the match level at 1-1 before adding four more in a shutout second half at Pepperdine, including a clutch final-minute save to preserve a 2-2 draw.
Big West Stats Leaders
Goals: Jessie Halladay (CP), Ava Tibor (UCSD), 2 goals
Assists: Sarah Canavan (UCD), 2 assists
Points: Jessie Halladay (CP), 5 points
Saves: Kennedy Justin (UH), 8 saves
Saves Per Game: Charlotte Wilfert (UCSD), 6 spg
Goals Against Average: Issac Ranson, 0 gaa
Full 2025 women's soccer overall statistics here.
New Faces of The Big West
- The Big West welcomes a new crop of leaders around the conference during the 2025-26 season. A trio of programs has welcomed new head coaches with Cal State Bakersfield, UC Davis, and UC Riverside, while Cal Poly kept its hire within the league.
The Roadrunners welcome Whitney Pitalo, who most recently served as the First Assistant Coach at Boston College, aiding the Eagles to a 12-5-2 overall record and the team's best finish in the American Coastal Conference (ACC) since 2018. CSUB earned its first pair of victories in the Big West Championship last season, before being narrowly edged in the Final in penalty kicks.
Kat Mertz joins the Aggies after orchestrating a program-changing run as head coach at NCAA Division II MSU Denver, posting a 39-20-19 overall record and a 28-12-8 mark in Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference (RMAC) action over four seasons. UCD capped off 2024 with the best regular season record in the league at 13-5-2 and earned the No. 2 seed in the Championship behind a 6-2-2 performance in conference play.
Mike Dibbini will now be the new manager of the Highlander. Dibbini brings nearly two decades of collegiate head coaching experience to UC Riverside, boasting a career record of 303-176-52 (.619). Most recently, he built Kansas State University's women's soccer program from the ground up, leading the Wildcats since their 2016 debut and steering them to multiple milestones, including a Big 12 Championship appearance in 2022.
Bernardo Silva will now take the reins at Cal Poly, succeeding Alex Crozier, who led the Mustangs since the program's inception in 1991. After leading CSUB for two seasons, he set multiple Big West program records and guided the Roadrunners to their best conference finish in history. A former Mustang assistant (2013-16), Silva compiled an 11-20-9 overall record and 6-8-6 Big West mark while coaching the 'Runners.
2025 USCA Division I Players to Watch
- A total of four standout Big West student athletes have been chosen to the United Soccer Coaches NCAA Division I Women's Players to Watch list.
The listings are compiled and released by the Division I All-America Committees to promote college soccer leading up to the official start date for the regular season later this month. Honorees include United Soccer Coaches All-Americans and All-Region players from 2024 who are scheduled to return for the 2025 season.
| Isabella Cruz |
Senior |
Midfielder |
Cal State Fullerton |
| Nalani Damacion |
Sophomore |
Midfielder |
Hawai'i |
| Genavieve Fontes |
R-Senior |
Midfielder |
UC Davis |
| Kennedy Justin |
Sophomore |
Goalkeeper |
Hawai'i |
Superwoman
- Isabella Cruz of Cal State Fullerton has been selected as one of The Big West's pair of 2025 NCAA Woman of the Year conference nominees.
Each year, NCAA member schools nominate graduating female student-athletes who have distinguished themselves on and off the field of play. From there, the NCAA Woman of the Year selection process narrows the pool to the Top 30 honorees—10 from each division—before selecting three finalists from each division. The award recipient is chosen by the NCAA Committee on Women's Athletics and honored at the NCAA Convention.
A second-generation Latina and standout student-athlete, Cruz has exemplified excellence both on and off the field. She completed her bachelor's degree in communications in just 2.5 years, graduating summa cum laude with a 3.9 GPA, and is currently pursuing a master's degree in professional communications while competing in her final season of NCAA eligibility. As a team captain for the CSUF women's soccer program, she has led with integrity, building a team culture centered on inclusivity, support, and growth.
Beyond athletics, she serves as her team's representative on the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC), advocating for the student-athlete experience across campus. Her commitment to service is evident through her volunteer work with Football for Her, campus engagement efforts like promoting voter participation, and community-driven initiatives such as food drives and holiday gift collections.
In addition to her academic and service contributions, Cruz has gained hands-on experience in sports marketing as an intern with Orange County Soccer Club, and currently serves as the social media manager for Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA), using digital storytelling to foster connection and purpose.
International Action
- Cal State Bakersfield senior Catalina Roggerone has once again been called up to the Argentina Women's National Team, making the midfielder's second appearance in 2025. The Mendoza, Argentina native helped the squad reach the semifinals and secure a podium finish, placing third overall in a major international tournament.
Preseason Prognostics
-Hawai'i has been selected as the preseason favorite to capture the 2025 Big West women's soccer title, as voted on by the league's 11 head coaches. Four teams received at least one first-place vote on the preseason poll.
The Rainbow Wahine, who finished 12-8-1 overall with an 8-1-1 record in conference play last season, earned 88 points and six first-place votes to claim the top spot after earning their first-ever Big West regular-season championship.
Defending tournament champion UC Santa Barbara (8-6-9, 4-2-4 BW) ranks second with 84 points and three first-place selections, followed closely by UC Irvine (6-7-6, 4-2-4 BW) with 81 points and one first-place nod. Long Beach State (6-9-3, 3-5-2 BW) collected 74 points and a first-place vote to land in fourth, while Cal State Fullerton sits just behind in fifth at 73 points.
Cal Poly (5-11-3, 3-6-1) finished sixth in the voting at 53 points, followed by UC San Diego (3-12-4, 1-6-3 BQ) in seventh with 42 points, and UC Davis's (13-5-2, 6-2-2 BW) 37 points placed the Aggies in eighth. Cal State Bakersfield (8-10-5, 4-3-3 BW) and CSUN (5-11-3, 3-4-3 BW) are knotted at No. 9 with 27 points as UC Riverside (2-13-4, 0-6-4 BW) rounds out the 2025 preseason coaches' poll.
Coaches also voted on an 11-member Preseason All-Big West Team featuring standout student-athletes from across the conference. Cal State Fullerton and Hawai'i led the way with both squads having a pair of representatives on the team.
The Big West unveiled its 11-member Preseason All-Conference Team, as voted on by league head coaches. The list features top returning talent from across the conference, with Cal State Fullerton and Hawai'i leading all programs with two selections each.
Representing the Titans are forward Isabella Cruz and defender Kaylin Raibon, who finished second and third in team scoring last season.
Preseason favorite Hawai'i places midfielder Nalani Damacion, the 2024 Big West Midfielder of the Year, and forward Amber Gilbert on the squad. Last season, Damacion notched seven goals, including five game-winners, while Gilbert was a consistent threat up top in 17 starts.
The preseason list also includes Cal State Bakersfield's standout goalkeeper Kamy Anaya, who helped lead the Roadrunners to their first Big West Final in program history with a .770 save percentage. Long Beach State forward Cherrie Cox returns to the pitch after claiming the 2023 Big West Offensive Player of the Year accolade behind a 13-goal campaign.
UC Davis forward Genavieve Fontes, the league's top scorer last season with 11 goals, earns a spot alongside UC Santa Barbara's forward Devin Greer, who tallied 10 goals en route to 2024 Freshman of the Year honors.
Jessie Halladay led the Mustangs as a forward with 11 points in 2024, while Mihaela Perez of UC Irvine helped anchor a defense that recorded five clean sheets in 19 starts. Midfielder Yoshi Rubalcava rounds out the 2025 preseason team as CSUN's representative after posting career-highs in both goals (5) and points (12) a year ago.
The 2025 Big West Women's Soccer Championship is set to begin on Sunday, Nov. 2, with first-round matches hosted by the No. 3 and No. 4 seeds, who will face the No. 6 and No. 5 seeds, respectively. From there, our semifinals and the title match will take place at the home venue of the 2025 regular-season champion and No. 1 seed. Semifinal action is slated for Thursday, Nov. 6, with the Championship Final set for Sunday, Nov. 9. The winner will earn the league's automatic bid to the NCAA Women's Soccer Championship.
Action across The Big West kicks off this Thursday, Aug. 14, while league play commences Thursday, Sept. 18, with four matches on the docket, kicking off a seven-week slate. Each side will play five home matches and have three bye dates throughout the Thursday-Sunday rotation, which concludes on Oct. 30.
2024 Postseason Rewind
- No. 3 seed UC Santa Barbara opened its postseason run with a 2-1 win over No. 6 seed Cal State Fullerton. Freshman standout Devin Greer led the way with a goal and an assist, including the game-winner in the 73rd minute.
In the later first-round match, No. 5 seed Cal State Bakersfield made history in their Big West Championship debut, upsetting three-time defending champion and No. 4 seed UC Irvine 1-0 behind Kamy Anaya's eight-save shutout and Isis Salazar-Ortega's 44th-minute strike.
The semifinals at Waipi'o Peninsula Soccer Stadium in O'ahu, brought more drama. UCSB edged No. 2 seed UC Davis 3-2 in double overtime thanks to Greer's penalty kick to reach the title match for the first time since 2018, while CSUB stunned top-seeded and regular-season champion Hawai'i, 3-0, to reach their first-ever Big West Championship final in any sport, still without allowing a postseason goal.
In the Championship final, UCSB and CSUB battled to a stalemate before the Gauchos prevailed 8-7 in a penalty shootout to claim their third Big West title, all won via PKs. The victory sent UCSB to its 10th NCAA Division I Women's Soccer Championship appearance.
From The Big West to the Big Leagues
- In January 2022, Long Beach State forward Lena Silano was selected 34th overall by the Washington Spirit in the third round of the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) Draft.
Silano was the second straight player from the Beach to be drafted and is the fourth overall Big West student-athlete to hear their name called in the NWSL Draft. Former teammate, Kaitlin Fregulia, and 2x Big West Defensive Player of the Year (2017, 2021) was selected 12th overall to the North Carolina Courage as the highest draft pick in Big West Women's Soccer history.
Silano won the 2022 Big West Offensive Player of the Year Award and has been an All-Big West selection twice (2021, 2022). The forward was also a member of the 2022 United Soccer Coaches All-West Region First Team.
Two months later, another alum of the Big West would have an opportunity to play in the NWSL as UC Irvine alum Scarlett Camberos was signed by Angel City FC (LA), marking her return to Southern California after spending time at Club América Femenil. The former Anteater scored 13 goals and notched seven assists during her senior season.
Another monumental moment for the conference occurred during the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup, while Quinley Quezada represented UC Riverside and the Big West on the biggest stage while playing for the Philippines. The squad suffered a 2-0 defeat versus Switzerland in the first group stage before winning its first-ever World Cup match against New Zealand, 1-0 on July 25, 2023. However, the Philippines fell in its final group match to Norway, 6-0.
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