Elyse Bennett, All-American

Kansas City, MO – Capping her stellar career at Washington State, super senior Elyse Bennett was named a Second Team All-American by the United Soccer Coaches as announced the national organization Thursday. Bennett becomes just the third all-american in program history joining the legends Morgan Weaver (2019) and Micaela Castain (2013) as Cougs to take home the honor.
 
Bennett adds all-american to the list of awards she has taken home in 2021 alongside of all-region and All-Pac-12 First Team honors. 

Coming back for a fifth and final year in 2021, Bennett captained the Cougs' to one of their most successful campaigns in program history as WSU finished the year with 14 wins including seven in Pac-12 play to earn another trip to the postseason. The Cougs' at-large berth to the NCAA Tournament was the fourth in the five year career of Bennett only missing out in the spring of 2021 in the COVID-19 shortened season. Bennett would guide the Cougs' to a win in the opening round of the tournament over Montana, 3-0, as her 2021 class of Cougs became the first set of seniors to advance out of the first round of the NCAAs in all four years in the tournament.

Offensively, Bennett finished her season with a career-best 10 goals while adding four assists for a team high 24 points . She would twice come up with game-winners for the Cougs, including a dramatic 89th minute header on the road at Oregon to lead WSU to victory in Eugene in a critical match that had postseason implications. For her career, Bennett notched 26 goals and 12 assists. Upon the completion of her career, Bennett ranked sixth all-time in goals scored and in points with 64. Additionally, she is one of only two Cougs to appear in over 90 contests throughout her career, playing in 93 games, the second most all-time.
 
Bennett will now look to take her talents to the professional level and join the pantheon of great Cougs currently playing in the NWSL.