Sept. 2, 2000

Box Score

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah - The Cougar soccer team clenched a season opening victory at Utah today 3-2 in double overtime.

The game-winning goal came 20 seconds into the second overtime by sophomore Katrina Stroh (Federal Way, Wash.) with an assist from 1999 leading scorer Deka DeWitt (Auburn, Wash.).

The assist was DeWitt's 14th, to tie for the WSU school record. DeWitt also had the tying goal forcing the game into overtime with seven minutes remaining in regulation.

WSU trailed twice in the game including all but three and a half minutes of the first half after a quick goal by Utah's Katie Tate.

"Overall the team showed great character in coming back twice," head coach Dan Tobias said. "We started a little bit slow, but found a pretty good attacking rhythm."

The Cougars had a strong showing by the freshman class today, with four starting, including Rachel Rodrick(University Place, Wash.) and Kim Morgan (Seattle, Wash.) in the midfield, and Shay Hobby (Danville, Calif.) and Mariette Boyce (West Linn, Ore.) in the back. Midfielder Jessica Allen (Mission Viejo, Calif.) and defender Danielle Sass (Vancouver, Wash.) both saw time as substitutes.

Junior Natalie Kehl (Spokane, Wash.) scored the Cougars first goal of the match with Stroh and Morgan picking up the assist.

The Cougars finish their Utah run against BYU Monday at 12 p.m.