# #

Home Slate Starts for Soccer

by wsucougars.com
Feb 11, 2021

2021 WSU Soccer Notes 02 EWU

#19 WASHINGTON STATE (1-0-0)
vs Eastern Washington (0-0-0)  | Fri., Feb. 12 | 7 p.m. | Indoor Practice Facility
  Live Statistics | StatBroadcast.com

OPENING XI
> Washington State begins its home season inside the Indoor Practice Facility Friday against Eastern Washington. The Cougs are 20-8-3 all-time in home openers.
> WSU to play in the "Bubble" early in the season due to winter weather, opening the year away from Lower Soccer Field for the first time since 1992. The Cougs have previously played at Martin Stadium when away from their home turf.
> Under head coach Todd Shulenberger, the Cougs have gone 36-14-4 at home in five seasons including winning a program record 10 games in 2018.
> The Cougars look to remain perfect all-time against EWU entering the week a perfect 5-0. The matchup is the first between the two sides since 2013.
> The Cougs enter the second week of the season ranked #19 in the TopDrawerSoccer.com poll, the second-straight week at #19. WSU is the fifth highest ranked team in the Pac-12.
> The Cougs enter the year picked 4th in the Pac-12 Preseason Coaches Poll.
> Senior Elyse Bennett started the year with a bang assisting on the first goal of the season and scoring the game-winner against Seattle U. The one goal, one assist game was the third such game for the senior striker in her career and second-straight in a season opener.
> Freshman Alyssa Gray became the 7th freshman all-time to score the opening goal of a season for the Cougs after scoring in the 18' at Seattle U.
> WSU played 6 freshmen in the opener at Seattle U (7 newcomers with the addition of transfer keeper Marissa Zucchetto). Three freshmen (Gray, Detrizio, and Whieldon) earned starts.
> The senior class continues to cement its legacy as the most decorated class in program history having won 40 games and advancing to at least the second round in each of their three seasons, a program first.
> Seniors Brianna Alger (Chicago Red Stars) and Makamae Gomera-Stevens (Houston Dash) were both selected in the third round of the 2021 NWSL Draft.

COUGS IN HOME OPENERS
Entering their home game against Eastern Washington Friday, the Cougs have posted a 20-8-3 all-time record in home openers. The Cougs have won their last two home openers and are unbeaten in their last three with their last loss coming to #16 BYU, 2-1, in 2OT Aug. 19, 2016.
In addition, the Cougs will be playing their home opener away from Lower Soccer Field for the first time since 1992 when they took on #8 Portland at Martin Stadium. Due to winter weather, the Cougs will play their early home games this season inside the Indoor Practice Facility bubble.

BENNETT BACK IN HER GROOVE
Taking over as the Cougs' primary target up top, senior Elyse Bennett got off to a quick start in 2021 notching a goal and an assist in the opener at Seattle U. The game-winner was her 5th career winner.
Last season, Bennett recorded five goals and five assists, finishing third in scoring on the team.
For her career, the senior has notched 11 goals and 8 assists. She is in search of the Cougs' all-time top-10 which starts at 18 goals.

GRAY BECOMES 17TH COUG FRESHMAN TO SCORE IN OPENER
Starting her career with a bang, freshman Alyssa Gray scored the first goal of the year for WSU as she became the 17th Coug freshman to score in a season opener. Even more impressively, Gray became the 7th freshman in program history to record the first goal of the season for the Cougars (First since Kailiana Johnson, Aug 23, 2013 against Seattle (W, 3-1)).

~ Complete Release ~ (PDF)

IN THE TWITTERVERSE

FOLLOW THE COUGS ON SOCIAL MEDIA ALL SEASON LONG 
Get all the info, photos, and videos a true Coug Fan could want by following the team on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram @WSUCougarSoccer.

Related News & Videos