PULLMAN, Wash. – The Washington State Cougar soccer team defeated the Montana Grizzlies, 3-0, Thursday night at Lower Soccer Field in front of 2,626 fans, the fourth-largest crowd in program history. Sophomore Reagan Kotschau scored the game-winning goal in the 22nd minute to open the scoring with freshman Kendall Campbell and senior Raniyah Burton adding their first career goals to secure the win.
“It was a good response after a long week,” Coach Todd Shulenberger said postgame. “This was a mature response. It wasn’t the best of starts for the first 10-15 minutes, but then we took ahold of the game and from there it was a good performance. It was a great crowd and how about getting that first win for Anne McCoy as Athletic Director.”
Two Cougars earned their first career assists at WSU, beginning with junior Maggie Mace providing the flicked on header to keep the ball live for the game-winning goal. Tappan also earned an assist for playing the initial header into the area. Senior transfer Ashly Berge also tallied an assist, the seventh of her career and first at WSU, playing Campbell forward in the center of the park before she found the net.
With a 2-0 lead entering the break, WSU continued to control possession and create pressure in the second half. As Montana hunted for a goal, the Cougs re-organized to punish the offensive Griz with long spells of possession and quick attacks into the final third.
The Cougars clinched the win when Burton found the back of the net in the 82nd minute. Burton’s first goal as a Coug found the back of the open net off a cross from senior Grayson Lynch. Lynch, who earned her eighth career assist, dribbled at Montana’s near post before slipping a low, driven ball toward Burton in the 6-yard box.
“Keeping the clean sheet is really important,” Kotschau said of holding Montana scoreless. “At the end we were really fatigued, but were able to work together as a team and keep possession and work the game.”
Nadia Cooper and the Cougar back line secured their first shutout of the season and first shutout since holding Colorado scoreless in Pullman last October. Cooper made five saves in the match to move to sixth all-time in Cougar goalkeeping history with 169 career saves.
Washington State returns to Lower Soccer Field Sunday night to welcome regional rival Idaho, August 25. The Cougars…
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