WASHINGTON STATE (16-6-1)
vs #2 North Carolina (23-1-1)
| Fri., Dec. 6 | 4 p.m. | Avaya Stadium
Watch Live | ESPNU
Live Statistics | NCAA Live Stats
OPENING XI
> The 2019 Cougars enter the College Cup as the winningest team in program history with 16 victories. WSU is an impressive 10-4 in one-goal games on the year and 3-0-1 in overtime.
> WSU heads to the College Cup for the first time in program history having defeated Memphis (1-0), #3 Virginia (3-2), West Virginia (3-0), and #5 South Carolina (1-0, OT). The Cougs are 8-10-4 all-time in the NCAA Tournament.
> The Cougs have taken down the No.1 and No. 2 seeds in their region, the first time defeating national seeds in the tournament.
> WSU faces North Carolina for just the second time in program history Friday night. The first meeting was to begin the 2003 season in Seattle.
>
Morgan Weaver (First Team) and
Brianna Alger (Second Team) took home all-region honors Monday leading the Cougs offensively and defensively on the year.
>
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 seven games.
> The Cougars defense has been solid all year allowing just 1.03 gpg, while producing 10 shutouts in 13 games. The Cougs have allowed one goal or fewer in 15 games.
> 12 different Cougars have scored on the year led by
Morgan Weavers' 14. 10 different Cougs have scored game-winners after
Mykiaa Minniss' winner against South Carolina.
>
Brianna Alger became just the 3rd Coug all-time to record double-digit assists after picking up her 10th of the year against Virginia.
COLLEGE CUP BOUND
The Cougs have advanced to the College Cup for the first time in program history having taken down #14 Memphis (1-0), #3 Virginia (3-2), West Virginia (3-0, and #5 South Carolina (1-0, OT) in their run to the cup. The final four run is the furthest the Cougs have advanced in program history and the deepest postseason run in the history of WSU Athletics in the NCAAs.
Throughout the run to the College Cup the Cougs have taken down a No. 1 seed and No. 2 seed, both on the road in hostile environments. In addition, the Cougs have defeated the AAC regular season champion, ACC tournament runner-up, and the SEC tournament champion.
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 an 8-10-4 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
The Cougars continued their historic run in the postseason with a 1-0, overtime, win at #5 South Carolina to advance to the first College Cup in program history. For 95 minutes the Cougars and Gamecocks were locked into a defensive battle that finally ended when
Mykiaa Minniss volleyed home a 96th minute corner kick to send the Cougs to San Jose. The Cougs snapped a 17-match unbeaten streak by SC and ended a seven match shutout streak scoring just the eighth goal of the season against the Gamecocks.
ALGER, WEAVER EARN ALL-REGION
The catalysts to a historic season, senior forward
Morgan Weaver and junior defender
Brianna Alger were each named to the 2019 United Soccer Coaches NCAA Division I Women's All-Pacific Region Team as announced Monday. Weaver was named to the first team while Alger was tabbed for the third team. The award marked the third-straight season Weaver was honored among the elite players in the region while Alger took home her first all-region award after switching to her new home among the Cougars' backline. The duo remarkably had a foot in 61% of the Cougars goals on the year scoring or assisting on 27 of 44 goals. The 44 goals ranks tied for 3rd all-time and the most in the last 26 seasons.
~ Complete Release ~ (PDF)
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