Cougar Soccer at Home for NCAA First Round

INDIANAPOLIS – Washington State University received an at-large bid to the 2014 NCAA Division I Women’s Soccer Championship, the NCAA announced, Monday.

The Cougars (10-4-4, 5-4-2 Pac-12) will host Seattle (14-4-2, 8-1-1 WAC) in the first round, Friday at Lower Soccer Field in Pullman. Kickoff is scheduled for 5 p.m.

Tickets are $7 for adults and $3 for youth (ages 2-17), senior citizens (age 65 and older) and students. The first 500 students will be admitted courtesy of Washington State Athletics. Tickets can be purchased in advance on wsucougars.com.

Washington State tied for fifth in the Pac-12 and is one of a record nine teams from the conference to participate in the postseason. The Redhawks won the WAC regular season and conference titles.

Washington State will participate in its fourth-straight postseason, a first for the program, and its sixth NCAA Championship in the last seven years. The Cougars will be at home for the second-straight season after hosting Illinois in 2013.

The Cougars are making their ninth appearance in the postseason all-time. Washington State is 2-4-4 against teams in the 2014 field of 64.

“I’m excited for our kids,” Washington State Head Coach Steve Nugent said. “They put in the work and earned the opportunity to be home in front of our wonderful fans and community. It is going to be a fun atmosphere in Pullman.”

The Cougars and Redhawks have played 10 times with Washington State winning each matchup. Last season, the Cougars won 3-1 in their season-opener on the road. Kailiana Johnson, Jocelyn Jeffers and the departed Micaela Castain each scored goals in the victory.