#19 Cougar Soccer Opens Season at #9 Michigan

#20/19 WASHINGTON STATE (0-0-0)

at #9/17 Michigan (0-0-0)
Thursday, Aug. 18 | 4 p.m. PT | 7 p.m. ET
Ann Arbor, Mich. | U-M Soccer Stadium
Watch Live | B1G+
Live Stats | StatBroadcast

OPENING NOTES

– The Cougs head east to open the season with a top-25 matchup against #9/17 Michigan.

– WSU enters the season ranked #19 by TopDrawerSoccer, matching its best preseason ranking in program history.

– The Cougars were tabbed to finish third in the Pac-12 in the Preseason Coaches Poll, the highest preseason conference ranking in program history and the first time WSU has received first-place votes in the coaches poll (2).

– The Cougars’ 2022 campaign begins where the 2021 campaign ended, in Ann Arbor, Mich., after a 2-0 loss against No. 6 Tennessee in the NCAA Tournament Second Round.

– The Cougs finished last season undefeated in true road games, with a 9-0-1 record and a 24-to-2 goal scoring advantage.

– WSU returns eight of its 11 starters, including all-conference selections Nadia Cooper, Mykiaa Minniss, Bridget Rieken, and Sydney Studer.

– 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 year with 12 shutouts and just 13 total goals allowed for a 0.59 GAA, the second-best goals against average in program history.

– Returning sophomore goalkeeper Nadia Cooper allowed just 10 goals last season, finishing the season 19th in the country with a 0.62 goals against average.

COUGARS VS WOLVERINES

Washington State has only played Michigan once in program history. UM traveled to Pullman in 2019 for the inaugural matchup between the sides, walking away with a 2-1 victory, Sept.13, 2019. Now fifth-year senior Elaily Hernandez-Repreza notched an assist on WSU’s goal in the match.

SEASON OPENING SUCCESS

Throughout the years the Cougs have been successful in season openers, having posted an impressive 25-5-3 record. WSU has won three of the last five season openers and is unbeaten in debuts since 2016. Over that 5-year span, the Cougs have outscored opponents 10-3, most recently tying Arkansas State, 1-1, in 2021.

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