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3-0 to go 3-0

by wsucougars.com
Feb 19, 2021

Game Highlights | Coach Shulenberger Postgame | Box Score (PDF) | Boxscore

In Case You Missed It
PULLMAN, Wash. – Continuing their dominant start to the 2021 spring season, the No. 19 Cougars (3-0-0) tallied three goals against their regional rival Idaho (0-2-0) to remain perfect on the year Friday night in the Bubble. After pressing the action for the entire first half only to be denied time and time again, the Cougars finally made good on all of their chances in the first 45 minutes when Mykiaa Minniss reprised her starring role from the Cougs' Elite Eight masterpiece a season ago. Working off a corner in the 44', Minniss, reminiscent of her play against the Gamecocks, made her way onto the back post once again where she would be in the right place at the right time to slot home the service from Sydney Pulver that was flicked on by Marin Whieldon. 
With the 1-0 lead in hand the Cougs continued to press the issue in the second half, working primarily on the offensive half of the field in search of some insurance goals despite allowing just a handful of counter runs by the Vandals into the defensive third. Again, the Cougs struggled to break through with another tally on the scoreboard as the Vandals' defense bent but refused to break against the pressure even picking up a defensive save on the line off a perfectly placed header by Elyse Bennett. The senior, denied thrice before, would not be deterred in her pursuit of yet another goal for her season tally as Bennett finally got one to go in the 77', banging a shot off the far post and off the keeper for her third goal in as many games. Bennett's goal was similar to her strike from the week prior, moving deep up the right side to get on the end of a pass, this time from MacKenzie Frimpong-Ellertson, before firing a shot across goal and off the post to put another score on the board. The Bennett goal would be the first of two late game strikes for the Cougs as Margie Detrizio continued to announce her presence on the collegiate scene as the freshman banged home a mistake by the Vandals in the 89' to cap the night for WSU.

Stat of the Match
The Cougs picked up their first shutout of the season, allowing just five shots including a single shot on goal in the final minute that was easily scooped up by 'keeper Marissa Zucchetto.

Things You Need To Know

  • Washington State improved 3-0-0 on the year and 13-1-0 all-time against Idaho winning their 13th-straight against the Vandals.
  • The Cougs recorded 18 shots in the game including nine on goal.
  • Mykiaa Minniss recorded her third career goal, one in each season, and her second career game-winner.
  • Elyse Bennett recorded her third goal of the season marking the first time in her career she scored in three-consecutive games. The last Coug to achieve the feat was all-american Morgan Weaver who scored in four-straight games as a junior from Oct. 25, 2018 to Nov. 9, 2018.
  • Freshman Margie Detrizio recorded a point in her third-straight game after scoring for the second-consecutive contest (she opened the season with an assist).
  • Freshman Marin Whieldon recorded her second assist in as many games while senior Sydney Pulver picked up her first of the season and first since vs Oregon Sept. 27, 2018.
  • WSU recorded its first shutout of the season, first shutout at WSU for senior Marissa Zucchetto. She has 20.5 career shutouts (19.5 in three seasons at Texas Tech).
  • WSu has outscored its opponents 9-2 in three games on the year, giving up only one goal in the run of play.
  • The Cougars begin Pac-12 play Friday, Feb. 26 at 7 p.m. as Utah comes to town for the first of two contests on the weekend.

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