PULLMAN, Wash. – Seniors
Kaitlyn Johnson and
Kailiana Johnson each scored second-half goals to lift Washington State to a 2-1 victory over Oregon State Thursday night at Lower Soccer Field.
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With the score tied at 1-1, defender
Kelsee Crenshaw cleared the ball out of the Cougar half down the right side where
Shayna Whieldon ran onto it. Whieldon crossed the ball to
Kailiana Johnson's feet in the middle of the field. Johnson took a pair of touches, got the ball on her left foot inside the box, and finished inside the near post for proved to be the game-winner. It marked her third goal of the season and the second assist for Whieldon this season.
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The Cougars (7-9-1, 2-7-0 Pac-12) been playing the majority of the game on Oregon State's (6-10-2, 1-8-0) end but struggled to put the ball in the net. Trailing 1-0 in the final 20 minutes, Cougar defender
Jordan Branch crossed the ball from the left side into the box to a waiting
Kaitlyn Johnson. Johnson took one touch before finishing inside the left post for her second goal of the season. Branch recorded her second assist of the season on the play.
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While Washington State controlled play for much of the game, it was Oregon State that struck first in the eighth minute as Annie Govig served a ball from distance to Nikki Faris, who was unmarked in the box. The OSU junior redirected the header just inside the far post for her sixth goal of the season and the quick 1-0 lead.
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For the game the Cougars held a commanding 23-10 advantage in shots and a 9-4 edge in corner kicks. WSU goalkeeper
Ella Dederick was not challenged much, facing only two shots on goal as she earned her seventh win of the season.
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Washington State returns to action Sunday when it hosts Oregon at Lower Soccer Field at 1 p.m. Prior to the game the Cougars will recognize the accomplishments of its eight seniors on Senior Day. Those festivities are set to begin at 12:45 p.m.
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