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Bennett comes up clutch

by wsucougars.com
Oct 28, 2021

In Case You Missed It
EUGENE, Ore. – A night of near misses and frustration turned into a night of pure bliss for Washington State (11-2-4, 5-1-3) as an 88' header by star striker Elyse Bennett secured an important Pac-12 road win for the Cougs, 1-0, over Oregon (9-3-5, 4-3-2) Thursday night at Pape Field. As anxiety mounted and the clock ticked ever closer to 90, the Cougs found the missing goal they had been searching for all night long, cashing in on their sixth corner of the contest to nab the game-winner. It was only a matter of time for Bennett to come through for the Cougs as the veteran forward had been knocking on the door throughout the match as the Cougs had been pressing the attack relentlessly only to be denied. Finally, in the 89' Bennett would make good on her fifth attempt of the night, skying over the top of the Duck defense to head home the back post bender sent in by her classmate, Sydney Pulver, from the corner as the super seniors hooked up for the first time on the year.
The Cougs' constant pressure suffocated the Ducks in their own end of the field, rarely allowing Oregon to push forward into their own attack. When the Ducks did manage to fight through the Cougs' defense was up to the task, pushing back the Oregon offense to pick up their 12th shutout of the season. In all the Cougs allowed just nine shots with only two finding their way to freshman Nadia Cooper in goal.

Stat of the Match
Elyse Bennett's goal at the 88:09 mark was the latest game-winner for the Cougs in regulation since Tiara Pittman's winner against Cal at 88:49 in Pullman, Oct. 17, 2008.
 
The Moments That Made The Match

Things You Need To Know

  • The Cougs ran their unbeaten streak to 10-straight against the Ducks, winning in Eugene for the fourth-straight time.
  • The win was the Cougs' 11th of the season and 5th in Pac-12 play.
    • The win snapped a three-match streak of double-overtime draws for the Cougs.
  • The Cougs improved to 7-0-1 on the road in 2021 while outscoring their opponents 17-to-2.
  • WSU picked up its 12 shutout of the season, the second most all-time in program history.
  • 5th year Elyse Bennett recorded her 10th goal of the season, her first double-digit scoring season of her career.
    • The game-winner was her 2nd of the season and the 8th of her career, tying for fourth most in program history.
    • The goal was her 26th career goal.
  • 5th year Sydney Pulver became the Cougs' undisputed leader in career starts with her 87th start.
    • She picked up her career-best 4th assist of the season.
  • Freshman Nadia Cooper recorded her 7th solo shutout of the season tying for seventh most in WSU single season history.
    • She improved to 7-1-3 on the year
  • The Cougs close out the weekend in Corvallis Sunday, Oct. 31 with a noon matchup with Oregon State.

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