Regional Rivalry Kicks Saturday

Aug 25, 2021

OPENING XI
> The Cougs look to get in the win column for the first time after settling for a draw in the season opener. The draw moved the Cougs record in openers to 25-5-3 all-time.
> In the month of August the Cougs are 32-12-6 all-time.
> WSU hosts regional rival Eastern Washington. All-time the Cougs are 6-0-0 against the Eagles, all in Pullman, including a 4-1 win last year in the home opener.
> WSU has dominated the region (vs EWU, Gonzaga, and Idaho) posting a combined 43-2-1 all-time record while outscoring its opponents 166-to-18.
> The season opener saw a record crowd of 3,147 at Lower Soccer Field, shattering the previous mark of 2,812 against Montana Aug. 30, 2019.
> 5th year Sydney Pulver moved into the Cougs' top-10 for games played having appeared in 78 total contests. The all-time record sits at 86.
> Pulver has been the Cougs offense to start the new year with a foot in all three goals (two in exhibition) scoring two and assisting on the other. All three have been from set pieces (two on corners at Idaho) including a PK against Arkansas State.
> WSU was picked 5th by the Pac-12 coaches in the preseason poll marking the third-straight year picked in the top half of the conference.
> The Cougs non-conference schedule ranks as the fifth toughest schedule among Pac-12 teams entering the year.
> Under head coach Todd Shulenberger, the Cougs have gone 40-14-8 at home in six-plus seasons including 0-0-1 this season.
> 5th year Brianna Alger and senior transfer Sydney Studer enter the year as the most decorated players on the roster having each earned all-region honors (Alger in 2019, Studer in 2020-21 while at OSU).

COUGS VS EAGLES
The Cougs continue their opening home stand against regional rival Eastern Washington who they opened their home schedule against in the spring with a resounding 4-1 victory inside the IPF. The Cougs dominated the run of play with the lone blemish coming in the 4' at the penalty spot. Four different scorers netted goals in the matchup including returners Grayson Lynch, Elyse Bennett, and Margie Detrizio. All-time WSU is a perfect 6-0-0 against the Eagles, all coming in Pullman having outscored EWU 26-4.
EWU has struggled to open its season at 0-2-0 having logged losses to Gonzaga (4-0) and Arkansas State (1-0), as the Red Wolves left the state of Washington 1-0-1 against the Cougs and the Eagles. EWU has logged just 10 shots on the year with three on goal while Kelsee Winston has posted 16 saves but allowed a 2.50 goals against average.

LAST TIME OUT
The Cougs opened their 2021 season with a 1-1, 2OT, draw against Arkansas State in front of a record crowd of 3,147 fans. WSU fell behind early as the Red Wolves netted the opener in the 16' on their first and only real scoring chance of the night. The Cougs dominated play posting 39 shots and earning 20 corners but had to settle for a lone goal in the 73' when Sydney Pulver made good from the penalty spot after Alyssa Gray earned the foul inside the Red Wolves 6. The 39 shots were the fourth most in program history while the 20 corners set a program record.

REGIONAL DOMINANCE
Controlling the region for over three decades, the Cougs have dominated their regional rivals (Eastern Washington, Gonzaga, and Idaho) going a combined 43-2-1 while outscoring the trio 166-to-18 in those 46 games. The majority of those games have come against the Bulldogs where the Cougs are 24-1-1 all-time with a 105-to-9 goal advantage (spurred on by early 1990s offense that included the two highest scoring games in program history 15-0 (Oct. 30, 1991) and 13-0 (Sept. 15, 1990)).

RECORD ATTENDANCE
Playing in front of fans for the first time in nearly two years, the Cougs saw a record crowd show up to Lower Soccer Field for the season opener as 3,147 Coug faithful poured in to see WSU take on Arkansas State. The crowd marked the first time in program history over 3,000 fans made their way to Lower Soccer Field, shattering the previous mark of 2,812 against Montana Aug. 30, 2019.
Four of the five top attended games in program history have come in the Cougs' home opener, all of which saw over 2,000 fans make their way through the gates to fill both the stands and the hill side.

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