WASHINGTON STATE (15-6-1)
at #5 South Carolina (19-1-3)
| Fri., Nov. 29| 3 p.m. PT | Stone Stadium
Watch Live | SEC Network+
Live Statistics | NCAA Live Stats
OPENING XI
> The 2019 Cougars became the winningest team in program history Sunday earning a record 15th win on the year.
> WSU heads to the Elite 8 for the first time in program history after defeating West Virginia, 3-0, in the third round of the tournament last week. The Cougs are 7-10-4 all-time in the NCAA Tournament.
> The Cougs earned their biggest win in program history with the upset of No. 1 seed Virginia Friday night. It was the second largest upset by rank in program history. The win was the first for WSU over a No. 1 seed in the postseason.
> WSU faces South Carolina for the first time in program history Friday night.
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Makamae Gomera-Stevens has been the best Coug on the field through three NCAA Tournament games scoring the game-winner over Memphis and West Virginia while assisting on the opening score against Virginia.
> Five Cougs were named All-Pac-12:
Morgan Weaver (2nd Team),
Brianna Alger,
Averie Collins,
Ella Dederick (3rd Team), and
MacKenzie Frimpong-Ellertson (All-Frosh).
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Morgan Weaver scored a career best 13th and 14th goal against West Virginia running her career total to 42, 2nd most in program history. She leads the team with three goals in the postseason and has scored 9 goals in the last six games.
> The Cougars defense has been solid all year allowing just 1.09 gpg, while producing nine shutouts in 22 games. In the last 12 contests the Cougs have earned five shutouts and given up one goal or fewer in nine contests
> 11 different Cougars have scored on the year led by
Morgan Weavers' 14. Nine different Cougs have scored game-winners after Frimpong-Ellertson's winner against Virginia.
>
Brianna Alger became just the 3rd Coug all-time to record double-digit assists after picking up her 10th of the year against Virginia. She is ranked #38 in the country at 0.45 per game.
> WSU is an impressive 9-4 in one-goal games in 2019 with 14 of 22 games decided by one-goal or fewer. Two of WSU's NCAA Tournament games have been one-goal games.
AN ELITE FEELING
The Cougs head to the Elite 8 for the first time in program history after knocking off #3 and 1 seed Virginia in the second round and taking down West Virginia in the third round of the tournament. The push to the quarterfinals is the furthest WSU has gone in the postseason, surpassing their Sweet 16 run in 2017.
In addition to the run being the deepest in soccer history, the Elite 8 run matches the deepest any Cougar team has gone in the NCAA Tournament, tying Volleyball which has made a pair of Elite 8s.
Prior to hitting the road the Cougs came up with a 1-0 first round win over Memphis at home in Pullman.
WSU is in the postseason for the eighth time in the last nine seasons and the 10th time in the last 12 years. WSU sports a 7-10-4 record in the NCAA tournament. Last season WSU bowed out at No. 1 seed Georgetown in round two. In 2017, the Cougs pushed their way to the third round for the first time in program history.
LAST TIME OUT
Two days after earning the biggest win in program history, Washington State made good on their upset of the No. 1 seed in the region, continuing their historic run by beating West Virginia, 3-0, to advance to the Elite Eight for the first time.
Makamae Gomera-Stevens got the things rolling early scoring the would-be game-winner in the 14th minute.
Morgan Weaver would put the game away in the second half with a pair of goals seven minutes apart. The defense led by
Ella Dederick earned its second shutout of the postseason and ninth of the year.
RECORD WINS
With their win at #3 Virginia in the second round of the NCAA Tournament the Cougars tied the single-season record for wins at 14. Two days later the 2019 Cougars put their names above the rest with a record 15th win after defeating West Virginia 3-0 in the third round of the tournament.
In addition leading his team to a record number of wins, Coach Shulenberger also became the first coach in program history to lead his team to the Elite * and also into the Sweet 16 twice after becoming the first team in program history to reach the third round in 2017.
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