Back to Boulder
WASHINGTON STATE (8-1-1, 2-0-0)
at Colorado (6-3-1, 1-0-1) | Sun., Oct. 3 | 11 a.m.PT | Prentup Field
Watch Live | Pac-12 Network (Analyst: Thad Anderson)
Live Statistics | SideArm Stats
OPENING XI
> The Cougs attempt to pull off the Rocky Mountain road trip sweep for the first time since 2015 when they take on Colorado Sunday. The Cougs have won the last two against the Buffs including a 1-0 OT win last season at Prentup Field.
> WSU has been perfect on the road in 2021 going 5-0-0 while outscoring its opponents 12-0.
> A 77' strike by Grayson Lynch was all the Cougs needed to nab the win at Utah Thursday night. The Cougs are 2-0 to begin Pac-12 play for the first time since 2018.
> 5th year Sydney Pulver became the undisputed iron woman of WSU soccer Thursday night when she played in her record-setting 87th career contest.
> The defense has been up to the task in 2021 allowing just three goals (0.30 GAA - 5th in the nation) while posting eight shutouts, five of which have come on the road.
> WSU tied a program record from 2013 with its fifth-straight shutout Thursday. Overall, the Cougs have not conceded in 459:49 minutes, the longest streak since 2014.
> The offense has scored 27 goals with 10 different players recording a goal and seven different game-winners. WSU's offense ranks 6th in shots per game (22.40) and 25th in scoring (2.70 gpg). WSU is +24 in goals scored on the year.
> Elyse Bennett and Grayson Lynch lead the way offensively with six goals which rank tied for 4th in the Pac-12. Each have netted once in Pac-12 play.
> Junior Enzi Broussard has found her groove at WSU leading the way with 5 assists (2nd in the Pac-12) to go with 3 goals (11 points, 3rd on the team). She scored her first career game-winner in her first career Pac-12 contest against Arizona.
> Under head coach Todd Shulenberger, the Cougs have gone 32-25-5 away from home (both away and neutral sites). WSU is 5-0-0 on the year on the road.
> 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.
COUGS VS BUFFS
Remaining on the road the Cougs head to Boulder to take on a Buff squad which is coming off a 2-1 win over Washington Thursday night. The Cougs are in search of their second-straight win at Prentup Field having defeated Colorado, 1-0, in overtime last season. WSU is riding a two-match winning streak against the Buffs and are 7-4-0 all-time in the series including an impressive 4-1-0 on the road in Boulder. None of the current Cougs have scored against the Buffs with last season's goal coming from Makamae Gomera-Stevens who currently plays for the Houston Dash in the NWSL.
The Buffs are unbeaten in their last three including wins over Washington and Denver, a common opponent between Colorado and WSU with Colorado winning 3-1 on the road. Shanade Hopcroft leads the way with four goals and five assists, picking up a goal and an assist in the win over the Huskies Thursday night.
The Cougs are in search of their first Rocky Mountain road trip sweep since 2015.
LAST TIME OUT
A late rocket off the foot of junior Grayson Lynch in the 77' was all Washington State (8-1-1, 2-0-0) needed to come away with the win on the road at Utah (5-5-1, 0-2-0) as the Cougs shutout the Utes, 1-0, Thursday night at Ute Field. In all the Cougs outshot the Utes 20-to-7 including 8-to-2 in shots on goal. When the Utes did find their way into the offensive attack, freshman Nadia Cooper was in position to turn away the attempt or the Cougs' defensive backline was there to force an errant attempt.
ROAD WARRIORS
Making a point to travel well and make a statement away from home, the Cougars have taken their talents on the road this season with an impressive 5-0 mark away from Lower Soccer Field. The Cougs have earned five of their eight shutouts on the road. Impressively, the Cougs have outscored their opponents 12-0 in hostile venues, jumping on their opponents early with 7 of their 12 goals (all in the first 30 minutes) coming in the opening half. Additionally, the Cougs have scored 2 in the opening five minutes and 4 in the first 20 minutes of action.
WSU's biggest win to date came on the road at Kansas, shutting out the Jayhawks, 3-0, at Lawrence, Kan. as well as winning its Pac-12 opener at Utah, 1-0, Thursday night, the first win in Salt Lake City since 2015.
DEFENSIVE DOMINANCE
The strength of the Cougars entering the 2021 season the defensive unit has not disappointed anchored by the veteran core of senior captain Mykiaa Minniss and junior Bridget Rieken in the middle. The duo have been the heart of the Cougs' defense since joining forces in 2019 including leading the team to the College Cup as underclassmen and have played nearly every minute together for the last three seasons.
On the year the Cougs have allowed just three goals (0.30 GAA) while posting eight shutouts. The Cougs tied a program record from 2013 with five-consecutive shutouts.
Overall the Cougs rank tied for 5th in the nation in goals against average
Freshman Nadia Cooper took over between the posts at Kansas and became the first true freshman to record solo shutouts in her first two career starts. She has been a part of 6 of the 8 Cougar shutouts and has yet to relinquish a goal on the year.
Entering the match the Cougs have not conceded a goal in 459:49 minutes, the longest streak since 2014.
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