PULLMAN, Wash. – The Washington State women's soccer team began its campaign toward a sixth consecutive postseason appearance Wednesday with the opening of fall training.
Under the direction of second-year head coach Todd Shulenberger, WSU returned to Lower Soccer Field after a record-setting 2015 season. Last season the Cougars tied the school record with 14 wins en route to a fifth-straight postseason berth and a third place finish in the Pac-12 Conference.
Washington State is one of only 11 schools in the country to have appeared in the last five NCAA Tournaments. In the 2016 NSCAA preseason poll released Tuesday, Washington State is receiving votes with 14 points.
Washington State returns 17 student-athletes, including 15 letterwinners and eight starters from its 2015 squad. The Cougars return senior Kaitlyn Johnson, who led the 2015 team with seven goals and six assists. In addition, the Cougars welcome back redshirt-sophomore goalkeeper Ella Dederick, who tallied 99 saves, the most by a WSU 'keeper since 2008.
Johnson and Dederick both earned postseason honors for their efforts last season, including All-Pac-12 and NSCAA All-Pacific Region selections.
Washington State debuts, Friday, Aug. 19 with a matchup against No. 16 BYU at 7 p.m. at Lower Soccer Field. The match will be televised on the Pac-12 Network.