A chance to rebound
WASHINGTON STATE
at Kansas | Sun., Sept. 12 | 1 p.m. CT | Rock Chalk Park
Watch Live | ESPN+
Live Statistics | StatBroadcast.com
OPENING XI
> The Cougs hit the road for the first of three-straight on the road to take on Kansas for the first time in program history. WSU is 6-4-3 all-time against Big12 foes.
> WSU has played just one game on the road to start 2021 picking up a 3-0 win over San Diego State a week prior.
> Junior Bridget Rieken is the reigning Pac-12 Defensive POW after leading the Cougs to a pair of shutouts while scoring two goals against Hawai'i. She added her first assist of the season Thursday against Seattle U.
> Junior Enzi Broussard has been the Cougs' best playmaker having tallied a point in four-straight games recording five assists and one goal (her first at WSU).
> The defense has been up to the task in 2021 allowing just three goals while posting three shutouts on the season.
> Junior Grayson Lynch, and 5th year Elyse Bennett lead the way offensively with three goals each while Bennett has posted a team-best 8 points.
> 5th year Sydney Pulver moved into a tie for 3rd all-time for games played having appeared in 82 total contests. The all-time record sits at 86.
> 5th year Elyse Bennett took sole possession of 10th on the Cougs all-time scoring list scoring her 18th and 19th career goals against Hawai'i. She needs 2 points to enter the top-10.
> WSU's offense in five games ranks 1st in shots per game (28.00) and 19th in scoring (3.20 gpg).
> 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.
> Under head coach Todd Shulenberger, the Cougs have gone 28-25-5 away from home (both away and neutral sites). WSU is 1-0-0 on the year.
COUGS VS JAYHAWKS
The Cougs begin a three-game roadtrip with a trip to Lawrence, Kansas to take on the Kansas Jayhawks. The Sunday contest will mark the first time in program history the two teams have met on the field. The Cougs are 6-4-3 all-time against teams from the Big12 with their last matchup coming against West Virginia in the 3rd Round of the 2019 NCAA Tournament, a game the Cougs won handily, 3-0.
The Jayhawks enter the game 4-2-1 overall and are coming off back-to-back wins including a 1-0 win over Arkansas State (a common opponent) and 4-1 over Cincinnati Thursday night. Brie Severns and Shira Elinav account for half of the Jayhawks 8 goals on the year while each scoring in the win over the Bearcats. Defensively the Jayhawks have come up with four shutouts in seven games and have allowed just three goals total.
LAST TIME OUT
For the first time in 2021 Washington State (3-1-1) found itself on the wrong side of the ledger falling 2-1 to Seattle U (5-1-1) Thursday night at Lower Soccer Field. The loss was especially hard to swallow for the Cougs who dominated the stat sheet, outshooting the Redhawks 25-6 on the night including putting 10 shots on goal and another off the crossbar in the second half. In the loss Enzi Broussard came up with her first career goal as a Coug and pushed her points streak at four games.
TRANSFERS MAKING THEIR MARK
Entering the year with big expectations off their successes at their previous schools, Sydney Studer (Oregon State) and Enzi Broussard (West Virginia) have not disappointed as the duo have made an immediate impact for the Cougs.
For Studer, the all-region honoree last season opened up her WSU scoring tally with what would be the game winner at San Diego State scoring in the 17' on a header at the back post. Last season, Studer scored a Beaver best seven goals, six of which came in the air. She has also helped cement the Cougs defensively in the midfield helping the way to back-to-back shutouts and a WSU defense that has allowed just six shots in the last two games.
Broussard has been the Cougs' best playmaker having produced a team-best five assists including setting up the Studer strike. She added her first career Cougar goal against Seattle U Sept. 9.
She tied the program record with an assist in three-straight games while also tying for second all-time with three assists in a game against Hawai'i. Broussard needs 2 assists to break into the Cougs' single-season top-10 for assists.
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