EUGENE, Ore. – The Washington State soccer team scored a game-winning goal from the penalty spot in the 50th minute to defeat the Oregon Ducks, 2-1, at Papé Field Friday night. The Cougars' (12-5-0, 5-4-0) Kailiana Johnson stepped up to take the penalty kick just 38 seconds after Oregon (4-13-0, 1-8-0) had equalized the match in the 50th minute. Johnson netted the game-winner for her second goal of the season.

“I'm really proud of this group,” Cougar Head Coach Todd Shulenberger said. “We continue to be road warriors, and we need to build on that positivity. I was happy again with our offense from time to time. I think we hit the crossbar three or four different times. Fortunately, those are going to start to go in.”

The Cougars opened the scoring in the 23rd minute when sophomore Chelsea Harkins scored from the top of the penalty area. After sophomore Kelsee Crenshaw took a shot from the right side of the box that was blocked and softly cleared to the top of the box, Harkins settled the ball at her feet. The Canadian touched the ball to her left to shed a defender and struck the ball across her body and into the lower right corner from 19 yards out.

Washington State took its 1-0 lead into the break, and improved to 7-0 this season when leading at halftime. WSU has not lost with a halftime lead in 33 matches, the longest streak in school history.

However, Oregon would temporarily even the score in the 50th minute. The Duck's Brooke Strawn headed the ball into the empty net at the goal line after another Duck crossed the ball into the area. WSU redshirt-freshman goalkeeper Ella Dederick came off her line to collect the high cross, but misread the ball. After taking a bounce off the crossbar, the ball fell to Strawn who headed home the equalizer.

The match would not stay tied for long, as senior Kourtney Guetlein found her way into the Oregon penalty area just 30 seconds after the goal at the previous end. Guetlein carried the ball to the touchline on the left side of the goal before being shoved in the back by Oregon's Caitlyn Wong. The shove warranted a whistle for the center referee and a motion to the penalty spot where Johnson would bury the game-winner.

“Credit to Kourtney for getting in and doing what she does to get the foul,” Shulenberger said. “Also, to Kailiana for stepping up to put it away to win it.”

The Cougars had several other opportunities to add goals in the match, including a pair of long looks that ricocheted off the crossbar. In the 33rd minute, Kailiana Johnson ran on to a loose ball 30 yards outside of the Oregon goal and struck the ball into the upper left corner of the frame. The Oregon 'keeper tipped the ball into the crossbar to avoid the goal. Later, in the 57th minute, sophomore Sofia Anker-Kofoed nearly netted her first-career goal, cracking a shot from 35 yards out that smashed off the crossbar.

In the match, the Ducks outshot the Cougars 11-10 with six shots on goal to WSU's three. Dederick picked up her 12th-career win, making five saves in the match to Oregon's one. WSU committed nine fouls in the match, while UO had six. The Cougars improved to 7-0 this season when committing more fouls than their opponent.

Washington State wraps up its road trip Sunday, Nov. 1, in an 11 a.m. matchup with Oregon State. The morning match will kick off from Paul Lorenz Field in Corvallis, Ore., and be televised on the Pac-12 Networks.

COUGAR NOTES

Sophomore Chelsea Harkins scored her first goal of the season and third of her career…with Harkins' goal the Cougars now have 11 goal scorers this season…junior Kailiana Johnson netted her second goal of the season…both of Johnson's goals this season have come from penalty kicks…the Cougars extended their school-record streak to 33 matches when leading at halftime…WSU has not lost when leading at halftime since Oct. 29, 2010…Washington State is 7-0 this season when committing more fouls than its opponent and 11-0 when scoring first…the Cougars improved to 11-4-5 all-time against Oregon…WSU improved 103-91-22 all-time in the month of October.