PORTLAND, Ore. – The Washington State soccer team lost its first match of the season, Sunday afternoon, falling to Portland, 2-0, at Merlo Field. The Pilots (3-6-0) netted one goal in each half to beat the Cougars (7-1-0) in their final nonconference match of the season.

“I'm disappointed to lose the way we did today,” WSU Head Coach Todd Shulenberger said. “We had chances early to take control of the game and didn't capitalize. After that we got outcompeted by Portland. Hats off to them. We'll bounce back and get ready for Pac-12 play.”

In the opening half, the Pilots controlled much of the possession before scoring the opening goal in the 24th minute. Portland's Parkes Kendrick headed the ball out of reach of an oncoming Ella Dederick. WSU's redshirt- freshman goalkeeper came off her line after the Pilots' Maddie Dieker flicked the ball on to Kendrick who put the ball away from Dederick from 10 yards out.

Despite entering the half trailing, 1-0, the Cougars outshot Portland 8-3 in the first half with three shots on goal to the Pilots' two. Washington State earned four corner kicks and held the Pilots without a corner kick through the opening period. The Cougars were not without their own opportunities. In the 22nd minute, senior Cara Wegner broke free on a counter attack. Wegner had a defender and the keeper to beat, but her shot took a deflection and just missed the frame.

Returning from the break, the Cougars controlled much of the ball at the start of the period, but UP took advantage of its opportunities, netting an insurance goal in the 53rd minute. The Pilots' Noelle La Prevotte placed the ball into the lower left corner after WSU failed to clear a corner kick, giving Portland a 2-0 lead.

WSU continued to create chances in the second half and nearly scored on several occasions. Freshman Grace Hancock almost found the back of the net on a dangerous free kick that went over the Portland wall, but sailed just high above the crossbar. Wegner had another good look in the 71st minute, hitting the ball over the outstretched Pilot keeper, but the shot dropped into the top netting.

In total, four players earned bookings in the physical match. Portland's Haylee DeGrood earned a caution in the 49th minute before the Pilots' Alyssa Edenstrom was shown yellow for a physical aerial challenge on redshirt-senior Beau Bremer. The Cougars picked up a pair of yellow cards, as freshman Maegan O'Neill made a hard challenge in the 70th minute, before sophomore Jordan Branch was cautioned in the 85th minute.

Washington State outshot the Pilots 14-10 in the match, with each side putting five shots on frame. The Cougars earned seven corners to Portland's two.

With the loss, the Cougars conclude nonconference play. WSU will open Pac-12 competition Sunday, Sept. 27, at Arizona State in Tempe, Ariz.

COUGAR NOTES

WSU was held scoreless on the road for the first time since Oct. 5, 2014 at Stanford…Ella Dederick suffered just her first-career loss…the Cougars fall to 7-1-0 in the season and 110-69-19 all-time in the month of September.