Ainsworth Helps Waves to Fast Start in Soccer

Thanks to freshman Jenna Ainsworth, the Pepperdine women’s soccer team is off to its longest unbeaten streak to begin a season in the program’s nine-year history.

Ainsworth, a midfielder from Westlake Village Westlake High, scored her first collegiate goal in the second overtime Monday, giving the Waves a 3-2 nonconference victory over Cal Poly San Luis Obispo in Malibu. Senior forward Kate Desmond assisted on the play.

Pepperdine (3-0-1), which squandered a 2-0 halftime lead, will be tested this weekend in its first road games.

The Waves play at Arizona on Friday night and at Arizona State on Sunday afternoon.

Pepperdine added the San Luis Obispo game to its schedule after road games against Texas Christian and No. 16-ranked Southern Methodist were canceled last week in the wake of the terrorist attacks on the East Coast.

Junior forward Kristi Bissonnette leads Pepperdine with six points (two goals, two assists).