Sunday promises a first at Wallis Annenberg Stadium.

In its third game of August and only second of the regular season, No. 11 UCLA women’s soccer (1-0) will face off against UC Riverside (0-1) on Sunday.

Despite the two respective campuses being barely two hours apart and two counties over, UCLA has never played UC Riverside.

UCLA defeated Long Beach State on Thursday, cementing its first regular season victory and the Bruins’ 9th all-time over the Beach.

Coach Margueritte Aozasa said the match showed UCLA’s offensive prowess, but also room for improvement.

“Hopefully going into the next game, we clean that up, and we just have a more consistent performance from start to finish,” Aozasa said.

However, not every Bruin is unfamiliar with the Highlanders.

Junior forward Bridgette Marin-Valencia’s sister, Natza Marin, played forward for UC Riverside from 2018 to 2022.

Senior midfielder Emma Egizii said the squad will try to improve stylistically on Sunday.

“We’re just going to build on not only the score line,” Egizii said. “But how we play the style and keep moving them and playing entertaining soccer for everyone.”

Sunday also marks the Wallis Annenberg Stadium regular season debut for many new Bruins, following a home exhibition game against Loyola Marymount and Thursday’s away game.

Nine new players total have received playing time in UCLA’s two games thus far, with five starting against the Beach.

“Honestly, the chemistry has been great,” Marin-Valencia said. “We got some new kids who’re ready for hard work, ready to grind now and you can just tell they have passion in their eyes.”

The Bruins will kickoff against the Highlanders at home Sunday at 2 p.m.

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