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What 2 Watch 4
- A trio of Big West squads tallied three points after going 1-0 in their first conference match with Cal State Bakersfield, UC Irvine, and UC Santa Barbara (8-2-1, 1-0 BW).
UC Davis opens this week and its conference slate hosting UCSB on Thursday at 6 p.m. UC San Diego visits Cal Poly, UC Irvine travels to CSUN, and Cal State Fullerton has its eyes set on UC Riverside, all at 7 p.m. to close Thursday’s slate.
Sunday sees a pair of matches set for 1 p.m. kickoffs between CP at UCD and UCI at CSUB while the 7 p.m. time slot has Hawai’i in its lone match of the week versus UCSB and UCR traveling to CSUN.
A total of six 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 (2-1-7) — The Mustangs’ unbeaten run reached nine matches before a hard-fought 3-1 setback in their Big West opener at rival UCSB. Sam Walker served a pinpoint cross in the 73rd minute that Madelyn Dougherty finished with a soaring header to bring Cal Poly level. Despite the late push, the ‘Stangs showcased resilience throughout the match. CP will look to bounce back when they host UCSD next Thursday at 7 p.m.
Cal State Bakersfield (4-4-1) — CSUB secured a 1-0 shutout in its lone match of the week against UCSD. Cynthia Ramirez scored the only tally of the match, which clinched the Roadrunners’ fourth straight win. CSUB takes some time off and returns to the pitch Sunday, Sept. 28, in its conference home opener against UCI.
Cal State Fullerton (7-0-2) — The Titans closed non-conference play with a 1-0 victory over San Jose State, as Isabella Cruz delivered the decisive strike in the 68th minute for the senior’s fourth game-winner this season. CSF then opened Big West action with a 0-0 draw at Titan Stadium, pushing its unbeaten start to 7-0-2. Isaac Ranson recorded three saves for a 24th career shutout, moving within one of the program’s all-time saves records. The Titans next travel to face UC Riverside on Thursday night.
CSUN (2-6-2) — CSUN opened Big West play with a gritty 0-0 draw at undefeated CSF, holding the Titans scoreless for just the second time this season. Riley Liebsack anchored the back line with five saves for a third shutout of 2025, while seven Matadros each logged a full 90 minutes on the pitch. CSUN extended its streak of draws with CSF to three straight seasons. The Matadors return home to host UCI on Thursday, Sept. 25.
Hawai’i (2-4-5) — The Rainbow Wahine opened Big West play with a 0-0 draw at LBSU, extending their unbeaten streak in conference openers to four straight seasons. UH followed with another scoreless result at San Diego State, as Brianna Chirpich and Kennedy Justin combined for the team’s fourth shutout of 2025. The Rainbow Wahine have now set a single-season program record with five ties and matched its longest streak of three consecutive draws. UH returns to Waipi‘o Peninsula Soccer Stadium to host UC Davis this Thursday.
Long Beach State (3-4-2) — LBSU opened Big West play with a dominant defensive showing in a 0-0 draw against UH. The Beach controlled over 60% possession and outshot the Rainbow Wahine 10-4, holding their opponent without a shot on frame. Aurora Shuck anchored the back line with the second shutout of the season. LBSU has a bye week but returns to action versus UCR on Oct. 2.
UC Davis (2-4-3) — The Aggies powered to a 2-0 Causeway Cup victory at Sacramento State with a pair of second-half strikes. Lakelee Perkins broke the deadlock in the 51st minute before Genavieve Fontes sealed the result late. Cat Pieper tallied two saves for a third shutout of the season as the Aggies controlled the night. UCD returns home to host UC Santa Barbara for the Big West opener on Thursday, Sept. 25.
UC Irvine (3-2-4) — UCI began conference play with a strong 3-1 win over UC Riverside at Anteater Stadium. The Anteaters notched back-to-back victories for the first time this season, moving to 4-2-4 overall and gaining early momentum in the conference race. UCI looks to keep rolling with two road tests next week, visiting an opponent Thursday, Sept. 25, before a Sunday, Sept. 28, matchup at Cal State Bakersfield.
UC Riverside (0-8-1) — The Highlanders showed grit through a challenging week, creating early chances in a tight 2-1 battle with LMU before a late push fell short. UCR kept pressure on in Sunday’s Big West opener at UCI but ultimately fell once more. The Blue & Yellow now turn their attention to Thursday, September 25, and host Cal State Fullerton in its Big West home opener.
UC San Diego (2-4-4) — UCSD played CSUB to a tough 0-1 result in its home opening Big West match. Charlotte Wilfert kept the Tritons within reach with five key saves. UCSD heads back on the road for a Big West clash at Cal Poly on Thursday.
UC Santa Barbara (8-2-1) — The Gauchos rolled past rival CP 3-1 on Thursday, powered by two second-half strikes to notch a seventh straight victory and extend a nine-match unbeaten streak. Haley Phillips nearly opened the scoring early with a shot off the crossbar before Chayse Yu broke through in the 37th minute. Maddie Buckley anchored the defense with key first-half saves to keep the Gauchos ahead. UCSB now heads on the road to face UCD on Thursday, Sept. 25, and UH on Sunday, Sept. 28.
Weekly Awards
- Cal State Bakersfield’s Cynthia Ramirez delivered the decisive strike against UC San Diego to score The Big West Offensive Player of the Week accolade. This is the first weekly distinction of the senior’s career. Ramirez netted a team-leading third goal of the season in the 31st minute, securing a 1-0 road win versus the Tritons during the conference opener for both teams. The goal extended the Roadrunners’ unbeaten streak to five matches, highlighted by four victories during the stretch (4-0-1). During their last four wins, CSUB has outscored its opponents 12-3 in that span.
Isaac Ranson racked up The Big West Defensive Player of the Week for the second time this season after securing back-to-back scoreless shutouts for Cal State Fullerton. This is Ranson's eighth overall weekly award after earning DPOTW seven times and FOTW once. Ranson recorded back-to-back shutouts with a 1-0 win over San Jose State and a 0-0 draw against CSUN, making five saves in the victory and three in the draw. Also added the first career assist by sparking a counterattack that led to the Titans’ lone goal against the Spartans. The goalkeeper now sports six shutouts on the season while orchestrating a defense that has surrendered only three tallies this season in nine matches.
Lakelee Perkins of UC Davis scored the forward’s first collegiate goal to claim The Big West Freshman of the Week award for the first time. Perkins picked up the game-winning score in the 51st minute over non-conference rival Sacramento State. The Rocklin, Calif. native registered two shots on the day, helping the Aggies close non-conference play with a 2-4-3 record.
All-Time Big West Players of the Week
The Big West in the Rankings
Cal State Fullerton is receiving votes in the latest edition of the United Soccer Coaches Poll released on Sept. 22, and is also the first Big West team to receive recognition this season. Behind a 7-0-2 record, the Titans are off to the best start in program history and still remain undefeated.
Six-Piece at the Beach
Long Beach State put on an offensive clinic in a dominant 6-0 home victory, tying the program record for both goals scored and margin of victory. Kailey Supa led the charge with a brace, while Cherrie Cox, Ameera White, Raddison Banks, and Jordan Candelaria all added goals in a balanced attack that never let up. The Beach (2-4-0) controlled play from start to finish, outshooting Nevada 13-2 in the first half alone and piling on four more second-half goals to secure the emphatic win. LBSU’s six-goal performance marked their best offensive output of the season and the most goals in a single match since 2018.
300 & Counting
Cal State Fullerton celebrated a milestone while continuing their hot start, securing a 3-2 home victory over New Mexico State at Titan Stadium. The win marked the 300th victory in program history, a testament to the Titans’ long-standing success on the pitch.
Sail Bozinovic scored twice, including her first collegiate goal in the fourth minute, and Camryn Cruz added a goal for her second straight game, powering a balanced attack that saw the Titans record 28 shots with eight on goal. Despite conceding two goals, the Titans’ defense held firm late, preserving the historic win.
School Spotlight: UCSB's Olivia Howard
In the world of collegiate sports, athletes are often celebrated for their physical prowess, determination, and resilience. However, there are moments when the challenges they face extend beyond the field and into the realm of personal health.
Such was the case for Olivia Howard, women’s soccer player at UC Santa Barbara. The junior forward from Dallas, Texas, encountered an unexpected and life-altering obstacle before even stepping on the field for the Gauchos when a congenital heart defect was discovered during a routine incoming physical.
The initial shock of this diagnosis and the subsequent journey towards recovery not only transformed perspectives on the sport but also ignited a passion within to raise awareness about congenital heart defects, especially in young athletes. Read more about Howard's journey here.
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.
Jenika Davis Final Cancer Update
Tune in above for a feature from UC Irvine Athletics with women’s soccer student-athlete Jenika Davis to talk about the senior's battle and victory against Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML), return to the pitch, special events, and more. UC Irvine's match against Washington served as this year’s Cancer Awareness Game, and Anteater Nation joined the fight against cancer and cheered the team to a scoreless draw.
Read more about Jenika Davis through the CalHope Courage award here.
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.
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 |
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.
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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