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Tough loss halts the streaking Cougs

by wsucougars.com
Oct 7, 2021

In Case You Missed It
PULLMAN, Wah. – A battle until the final whistle, a 29' minute goal would prove to be the difference as Washington State (9-2-1, 3-1-0) fell to No. 14 Stanford (9-3-0, 3-1-0), 1-0, Thursday night at Lower Soccer Field. In what proved to be an evenly played game between two Pac-12 opponents looking for their footing in the conference title race it was the Cardinal who came out on top after finding the early goal and making it hold up for over an hour on the Palouse. The Cardinal would get their goal off the head of Naomi Girma as the all-american centerback found herself in the right place at the right time in the wash of the Stanford corner. Girma was able to get her header just past the outstretched dive of Nadia Cooper after the freshman keeper was still recovering from punching out the corner sent into the box from Julia Leontini. For Cooper, the goal was the first time the young keeper had seen the ball in the back of the net as Girma's strike snapped a record-setting 523:56 minutes without conceding for Cooper to begin her collegiate career. 
The Cougs were not without their chances on the night as WSU forced four saves on 10 chances led by Grayson Lynch and Sydney Studer. The pair of midfielders accounted for half of WSU's attempts on the night including two of the four shots on goal. 

Stat of the Match
The Cougs ran their program-long shutout streak to 578:45 minutes before the Cardinal scored to snap the record run.

The Moments That Made The Match

Things You Need To Know

  • The Cougs fell for the first time in Pac-12 play dropping to 3-1 in conference play.
    • The shutout was the first of the season against the Cougs after scoring in the first 12 matches of the season.
  • The loss was the Cougs first since dropping a 2-1 decision to Seattle U, Sept. 9, at Lower Soccer Field.
  • Stanford scored just the fourth goal of the season against the Cougs, all of which have come at home against WSU.
    • Stanford shut the Cougs out for the second-straight contest.
    • Stanford became the first team to outshoot the Cougs on the year, 11-to-10.
  • WSU set a program record with 578:45 straight scoreless minutes with the last goal coming against the Cougs back on Sept. 9 against Seattle U.
  • Freshman Nadia Cooper became the program's record holder for consecutive shutout minutes running her streak to 523:56 minutes to begin her career before relinquishing her first career goal in the 29'
  • The Cougs finish the weekend at home against Cal, Sunday, Oct. 10 as the two teams face off at 1 p.m. on Pac-12 Insider.

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