On the road again
WASHINGTON STATE (10-2-4, 4-1-3)
at Oregon (9-2-5, 4-2-2) | Thr., Oct. 28 | 7 p.m. | Pape Field
Watch Live | Pac-12 Network (Analyst: Rich Burke)
Live Statistics | StatBroadcast
OPENING XI
> The Cougs hit the road for the final two weeks of the season beginning with a tilt at Oregon Thursday. WSU is unbeaten in the last nine against the Ducks and are looking to create some separation in the standings between the two teams.
> Last time out the Cougs came up with a pair of draws against #5 USC and #8 UCLA, allowing just one goal in 220 minutes of action.
> The Cougs look to remain unbeaten on the road in 2021 entering the week 6-0-1 away from Pullman with a 16-to-2 goal scoring advantage. The lone blemish a 2-2 draw at ASU three weeks ago.
> Freshman Nadia Cooper was named Pac-12 GKoW for the second time after shutting out USC and allowing just one goal to UCLA. She came up with 10 total saves to lead the way.
> The defense has been up to the task in 2021 allowing seven goals (0.41 GAA) while posting 11 shutouts. The Cougs ranks 3rd in the nation in GAA.
> Freshman Nadia Cooper leads the nation with a 0.36 GAA having conceded just four goals in 12 appearances. Her 6 solo shutouts is one away from the Cougs' single-season top-10.
> The offense has scored 34 goals with 10 different players recording a goal and eight different game-winners. WSU's offense ranks 10th in shots per game (20.00) and 45th in scoring (2.12 gpg). WSU is +27 in goals scored on the year.
> Elyse Bennett leads the attack with 9 goals, 5th in the Pac-12, and 21 points. She has scored four goals in eight Pac-12 games.
> The Cougs RPI jumped to 40 putting them right on the bubble for another NCAA Tournament berth.
> Under head coach Todd Shulenberger, the Cougs have gone 33-25-6 away from home (both away and neutral sites). WSU is 6-0-1 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 DUCKS
With the season hitting the home stretch the Cougs hit the road for the final three matches of the season beginning Thursday at Oregon. The Cougs have dominated the all-time series as of late going unbeaten in the last nine contests at 6-0-3. Last season saw the Ducks escape Pullman with a 1-1 draw in a game Margie Detrizio scored in the opening half to give WSU the lead while the Ducks found the equalizer in the 71'. During the unbeaten streak the Cougs have gone 3-0-1 at Pape Field winning the last three including the 2019 matchup, 1-0 on the strength of an Elyse Bennett goal.
The Ducks enter the week one-point behind the Cougs in the standings after picking up a golden goal win over Utah their last time out. Aly Cook leads the attack with 8 goals including the game-winner against the Utes last Sunday.
LAST TIME OUT
The Cougs settled for a pair of draws against #5 USC and #8 UCLA to close out the home portion of their 2021 schedule. Outclassing their opponents for much of the weekend the Cougs put themselves back inside the bubble for an at large bid to the NCAA Tournament. On the week the Cougs gave up just one goal while shutting out USC, the nation's 7th ranked offense. Against UCLA it was Sydney Studer who came up big, finding the equalizer in the 55' after the Cougs fell behind in the opening half to the Bruins.
COOPER TOP KEEPER, AGAIN
For the second time in her inaugural season freshman Nadia Cooper was named the Pac-12 Goalkeeper of the Week as announced by the conference office Monday. Facing off against two of the top offensive units in the country, Cooper shined once again as the first-year netminder conceded just one goal on the weekend in 220 minutes of action. Opening the week against the conference's top team, Cooper stymied the Trojan's seventh-ranked attack to pick up her sixth shutout of the season and earn a hard-fought draw for the Cougs. The shutout was just the second time all season the Trojans had been held scoreless and snapped an 11-match winning streak for USC. Three days later she was once again up to the task as the young keeper held the high-powered Bruins to a single goal while again playing 110 minutes en route to a second-straight draw against the top-10 opponent.
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 6-0-1 mark away from Lower Soccer Field. The Cougs have earned six of their shutouts on the road. Impressively, the Cougs have outscored their opponents 16-2 in hostile venues, jumping on their opponents early with 9 of their 16 goals coming in the opening 30 minutes. Additionally, the Cougs have scored 2 in the opening five minutes and 5 in the first 20 minutes of action.
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