Futbol Friday

Mar 18, 2021

Coach Shulenberger Presser | 2021 WSU Soccer Notes 06 UW

OPENING XI
> Washington State gets back into action after a two week pause due to COVID-19 protocol that cost the Cougs four Pac-12 games
> WSU heads west for the first of two Boeing Apple Cup Series games, the first against the Huskies not counting towards the Pac-12 standings. The Cougs look for revenge against Washington after the Huskies snapped a 15-year unbeaten streak against WSU last season in a 1-0 contest at Seattle to end the regular season.
> The Cougs are one of three teams in the Pac-12 that remain undefeated coming into the weekend 4-0-1.
> The offense has been clicking having scored 11 goals in five games with six difference scorers including a pair of first time scorers.
> Senior Elyse Bennett has been on fire to begin the year scoring five goals, second in the Pac-12 while her 1.00 goals per game ranks first. She posted her first multi-goal game against Utah last time the Cougs were on the field.
> Defensively the Cougs have been the stingiest defense in the conference and one of the best in the nation having allowed just 2 goals in 5 games. WSU has three-straight shutouts.
> Senior keeper Marissa Zucchetto is riding a 376:31 scoreless streak in goal the longest streak since 2014 (427 min.)
> The Cougs enter week at #13 in the TopDrawerSoccer.com poll. WSU is the third highest ranked team in the Pac-12.
> Freshman Margie Detrizio has burst onto the scene scoring two goals and assisting on two more in her first five collegiate contests. She is second on the team with 6 total points.
> WSU's freshmen have made an immediate impact notching three goals (Gray, Detrizio (2)) and five assists (Detrizio (2), Whieldon (2), McGill) in five games.
> The senior class continues to cement its legacy as the most decorated class in program history having won 43 games (record is 50 wins) and advancing to at least the second round in each of their three seasons, a program first.

COUGS VS WASHINGTON
The Cougs and the Huskies face off in the first of two Boeing Apple Cup Series contests Friday in Seattle in a non-conference matchup in what will be the 30th contest between the two rivals. The Cougs hold a 14-8-7 advantage all-time but are looking for revenge against the Huskies who snapped WSU's 15-match unbeaten streak last season with a 1-0 win in Seattle to end the 2019 regular season.
#23 Washington enters the week one of the best defenses in the country having allowed just four goals in eight games. The Huskies are coming off a 2-1 win over Cal last weekend at Seattle

COUGS BACK FROM PAUSE
WSU is back on the field after a two-week pause due to Covid-19 Protocol. The Cougs were forced to cancel four Pac-12 contest missing out on chances to compete against Arizona, Arizona State, Stanford, and Cal. Prior to going on pause, the Cougs were unbeaten in five games with their lone blemish coming in the form of a draw against Utah in their lone Pac-12 conference game of the year, to date.

SHUTOUTS A PLENTY
While the offense has been clicking the Cougs defense has quietly put together a dominant start to the year having allowed just two goals in five games including posting three-straight clean sheets.
Senior Marissa Zucchetto is third in the Pac-12 in shutouts in her first season at WSU while she enters the weekend riding a 376:31 scoreless streak in goal the longest streak since 2014 (427 min.). She has 22.5 career shutouts (19.5 in three seasons at Texas Tech).

~ Complete Release ~ (PDF)

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