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Lynch pin

by wsucougars.com
Sep 19, 2021

In Case You Missed It
GREELEY, Colo. – A blitzkrieg at the opening whistle put the game away before the blink of an eye as Washington State (6-1-1) ended non-conference play with a 3-0 shutout of Northern Colorado (2-6-2) Sunday morning in Greeley, Colo. Putting their aerial skills on full display the Cougs got on the board just 1:02 into the contest when Grayson Lynch snuck onto the back post to jump on the end of a lofted cross from Kelis Barton. The goal was the first in the air for Lynch in her career and was a picture of what more was to come. Only 10 minutes later the Cougs would double their lead as Elyse Bennett and Brianna Alger hooked up for the second time in the last three contests, again making use of WSU's size advantage for the score. Playing on the endline at the edge of the box, Alger flicked a ball across the face of the goal and into the mix where Bennett was waiting for the redirect, heading a shot to the far post and into the back of the net to reclaim her spot at the top of the Cougs' scoring list. That trip back to the top of goal mountain would be short lived for the fifth-year senior as Lynch pulled herself even with her fifth goal of the year and second of the match in the 23'. With defenders on either side, Lynch received a pass from Sydney Studer at the top of the 18 and spun free toward goal, chipping a shot off the outstretched hands of the Bears' keeper that slowly trickled across the line for what would be the third and final goal of the match.
The Cougars would continue their pressure throughout the rest of the contest, rarely letting the Bears to get into the attack. However, UNC did come within inches of snapping the Cougs' shutout streak when a bending free kick went just over the crossbar in the 80' In all, WSU would fend off a small charge late by the Bears as Nadia Cooper and Marissa Zucchetto combined for yet another shutout, their third combined cleansheet of the year.

Stat of the Match
Junior Grayson Lynch's 2' goal was the fastest goal scored for the Cougs since all-time great Makamae Gomera-Stevens scored the fastest goal in program history just :21 seconds in against JMU on Sept. 1, 2019.

The Moments That Made The Match

Things You Need To Know

  • The Cougs closed out non-conference play perfect on the road at 4-0-0 having outscored their four opponents 11-0.
  • WSU has posted shutouts in all six victories on the year and finish non-conference play +21 in goals scored at 24-to-3.
  • The win was the second all-time against the Bears as WSU improved to 2-0-0 against UNC. The last time the two met was in Los Angeles in 2004.
  • The Cougs scored multiple goals for the sixth time in eight contests.
    • Six different WSU players have scored game-winners on the year.
  • Junior Grayson Lynch notched her second brace of the season and moved into a tie for the team lead with five goals on the year.
    • The game-winner was her first of the season and third of her career. First game winner for Lynch since April 9, 2021 at home against Oregon State.
  • 5th year Elyse Bennett scored her fifth goal of the season to move to 13 points on the year.
    • Bennett has scored 21 career goals, tied for 7th all-time in program history.
  • Freshman Nadia Cooper continued her run of shutouts playing the opening 45 minutes. The freshman has yet to concede a goal in five appearances (3 starts) and 315:00 minutes.
    • She tied a season-high three saves.
  • 5th year Sydney Pulver moved into a tie for 2nd all-time in games played with 85 appearances.
    • Her 78th career start ties for 4th all-time.
  • Three different players assisted the scoring in Kelis Barton, Brianna Alger, and Sydney Studer.
    • Barton recorded her first assist of the season and second of her career.
    • Alger nabbed her second assist of the year (both to Bennett)
      • Alger moved into the Cougs all-time top-10, tying for 8th with 14 career assists.
    • Studer assisted on her second goal of the year (both to Lynch).
  • The Cougs begin Pac-12 play Friday, Sept. 24 at home against Arizona. The match is scheduled for a 5 p.m. kickoff on the Pac-12 Network.

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