Cougs vs Griz in round one
WASHINGTON STATE (13-2-4)
vs Montana (13-5-1) | Sat. Nov. 13 | 5 p.m. | Lower Soccer Field
Watch Live | ESPN+ (Analyst: Trevor Williams)
Live Statistics | StatBroadcast
OPENING XI
> The Cougs head into their 14th postseason all-time including their 5th under Head Coach Todd Shulenberger. WSU is 8-11-4 in the NCAA Tournament and is 6-4-1 in under Shulenberger.
> WSU is set to host Montana Saturday at Lower Soccer Field, the third-straight home game in the opening round for the Cougs. The two teams met in round one in 2018 in a game the Cougs won 5-1.
> WSU closed the regular season at #15 in USC poll.
> The regular season closed with the Cougs sporting a 13-2-4 overall record, the second most wins in the regular season in program history. WSU closed the season on a seven-match unbeaten streak including three-straight road wins to finish.
> Freshman Nadia Cooper became the first Coug in program history to be named the Pac-12 Goalkeeper of the Year as well as Freshman of the Year.
> Five Cougs earned All-Pac-12 honors in Nadia Cooper (1st), Elyse Bennett (1st), Mykiaa Minniss (1st), Sydney Studer (3rd), Bridget Rieken (3rd).
> WSU's offense has been historic scoring 42 goals which ranks tied for 5th all-time in program history and is just three shy of setting the modern era (Pac-10/12) record currently held by the 2019 College Cup squad that scored 45 goals. It is the most goals scored in the regular season since 1991.
> Defensively the Cougs finished the regular season ranked 11th in the country at 0.55 goals against average after giving up just 11 goals in 19 games (one of which was an own goal).
> 5th year Elyse Bennett looks to cement her legacy in the postseason having notched 26 goals and 12 assists for her career. She ranks 6th all-time in goals scored and in points with 64.
> The sophomores have been the catalyst to the Cougs success in the final weeks of the season led by Margie Detrizio (3 goals and drew a PK) and Alyssa Gray (1 goal, 1 assist).
> The Cougs finished the regular season 3rd in the Pac-12 posting a 7-1-3 record in conference play. The seven wins tied for the most in program history while the .773 win percentage was the highest in the history of Cougar soccer in conference action.
COUGS VS GRIZ
For the third time in their histories the Cougs and the Griz will meet in the first round of the NCAA Tournament at Lower Soccer Field. Last time, the Cougs dominated the Griz, 5-1, to kick off the 2018 Tournament. In the first meeting it was the Griz who got the upper-hand, winning 1-0 in the 2000 NCAA Tournament, the last time the Griz won in Pullman.
All-time the Cougs have been in control against Montana, winning 14-of-22 matches including a 10-2-1 mark in Pullman. WSU is unbeaten in the last 11 against the Griz and have won three-straight, all in Pullman. The last time the two met at the start of the 2019 season the Cougs posted a 6-0 win.
The Griz earned the right to play in the postseason after winning the Big Sky Tournament last week. The trip to the postseason is the 6th for Montana and the third in the last four seasons including a trip last season in the spring tournament. Montana is just 1-5 in the postseason with the lone win coming against the Cougs in 2000.
POSTSEASON BOUND
For the 14th time in program history the Cougs are headed to the postseason after earning an at-large big thanks to their third place finish in the Pac-12. Entering the 2021 postseason the Cougs are looking to repeat their magic run to the program's first College Cup in 2019. The 2021 class of fifth-year seniors have been the core of the Cougs unprecedented success in the postseason having advanced out of the first round of the tournament in all three of their postseason runs including the program's first sweet 16 in 2017 and the semifinal run in 2019.
All-time the Cougs are 8-11-4 in the NCAA Tournament and are 6-4-1 in four appearances under head coach Todd Shulenberger.
At home the Cougs are 2-3-1 in first round games winning each of their last two at Lower Soccer Field.
COUGS IN THE REGULAR SEASON
The Cougs finished the 2021 regular season third in the Pac-12 having posted a 7-1-3 record in conference play. The seven wins tied for the most in program history while the .773 win percentage was the highest in the history of Cougar soccer in conference action. Defensively the Cougs were one of the best teams in the country finishing the regular season with 12 shutouts, the second-most in program history while finishing the year 13-2-4. The 13 wins in the regular season finished one shy of the program record 14 victories in the 2013 season.
FIVE EARN ALL-PAC-12 HONORS
Headlined by Nadia Cooper, the Cougs put five on the all-conference team as the yearly awards were announced by the Pac-12 office. Cooper along with the Cougs' captains Elyse Bennett and Mykiaa Minniss each were named to the First Team while Sydney Studer and Bridget Rieken each nabbed Third Team honors.
Between the group the five accounted for 16 goals and 12 assists on the offensive end while leading the defense to 12 shutouts while allowing just 11 goals on the year. Bennett accounted for 10 of the 16 goals as the 5th year senior came up with a career year in front of goal to earn her first First Team award.
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