WASHINGTON STATE (10-5-1, 3-4-1)
vs Utah (6-7-4, 1-4-3)
 | Thr., Oct. 31 | 7 p.m. | Lower Soccer FieldÂ
 Watch Live | Pac-12 Network (Kate Scott)
 Live Statistics | Statbroadcast.com
OPENING XI
> Washington State enters the week needing to right the ship having gone just 3-4-1 in Pac-12 play and sitting in seventh place in the standings heading into the penultimate week.
> Despite the recent lull the Cougs RPI remains high at #26 with games remaining against #55 Utah, #36 Colorado, and #10 Washington.
> 11 of the Cougs' last 13 games have been decided by one-goal or fewer with WSU going 7-3 in one-goal contests and a 0-0 draw against ASU.
> The Cougs and the Utes have played relatively even the last four seasons with the teams alternating wins and shutouts. Last season Utah clipped the Cougs 1-0 in overtime while WSU won 3-0 in 2017 in the last meeting in Pullman.
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Ella Dederick has 6 full shutouts on the year and has 26 career shutouts (2nd all-time). She is the program's all-time leader in wins (47) and minutes (7457:45) and 3rd in saves (281).
> The Cougars defense has been solid all year allowing just 1.19 gpg, while producing seven shutouts in 16 games. In the last six contests the Cougs have earned three shutouts.
> 10 different Cougars have scored on the year with
Morgan Weaver and
Averie Collins leading the way with five goals each. Seven different Cougs have scored game-winners with Collins,
Makamae Gomera-Stevens and
Elyse Bennett tied at two.Â
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Brianna Alger is #61 in the nation in assists per game at 0.44 (7 total) and tied for #4 in the Pac-12. WSU is #46 overall in assists per contest at 1.81 (29 total).
> In 2019 the Cougars are 4-2-1 and hold a 17-8 scoring advantage.
> WSU remains ranked #23 in the TopDrawerSoccer poll despite falling just outside of the top-25 in the United Soccer Coaches and SoccerAmerica polls.
> WSU's six seniors will be playing their final home contests this weekend (excluding a possible NCAA tournament game). The seniors have combined for 41 wins in the past four seasons including a pair of tournament appearances and a sweet 16 run in 2017.
LAST TIME OUT
The Cougs dropped a pair of contests on the road at the LA schools falling 3-0 to #7 USC and 2-1 to #18 UCLA. The loss at UCLA marked the first time on the year the Cougs lost a contest after scoring first as
MacKenzie Frimpong-Ellertson scored the opening goal in the 33'. WSU could not hold its lead, however, as the Bruins responded with a goal in the 54' and the winner in the 85'. The losses also marked the first time the Cougs had dropped back-to-back games on the year.
AN RPI GAME
Playing in the ultra-tough Pac-12 has its advantages as the Cougars enter the week ranked #26 in the RPI. Last season the Cougs were ranked #38 at the end of the year when WSU earned a home game in the first round of the NCAA Tournament.
WSU is the fifth-highest ranked team in the Pac-12 trailing #1 Stanford, #5 USC, #10 Washington, and #11 UCLA. The conference has eight teams inside the top-40 and six inside the top-20.
HOME FIELD ADVANTAGE
Taking care of business at home all season long, the Cougs came up with a program record 10 wins at Lower Soccer Field in 2018. The previous record for WSU was eight, done three times prior. Overall, the Cougs went 10-1-1 at home for an .875 win percentage, tied for the third-best percentage in WSU history. The only teams to get past the Cougars at home last year were #2 USC (3-2) and #1 Stanford (1-1 Draw, 2OT). In addition to the wins, the Cougs outscored their opponents 33-12 at home scoring 80% of their goals at Lower Soccer Field.Â
In 2019 the Cougars are 4-2-1 and hold a 17-8 scoring advantage.
All-time, WSU is 155-79-25 at home.
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