WASHINGTON STATE (0-0-0)
at Seattle U (0-0-0)
 | Thr., Aug. 22 | 7 p.m. | Championship Field
 Watch Live | WCC Digital Network
 Live Statistics | WSUCougars.com
OPENING XI
> Washington State begins the 2019 season the same way it began the 2018 season with a contest vs Seattle. Last season WSU defeated the Redhawks, 3-1, in Pullman.
> The Cougars are 23-5-2 all-time in season openers including 8-0-1 in true road contests.
> WSU is coming off of a 5-0 win at SDSU in exhibition play.
Morgan Weaver led the way with two goals and two assists while the defense allowed just one shot on goal in 90 minutes.
> The Cougars enter the new year ranked #15 by TopDrawerSoccer.com, #23 by SoccerAmerica, Â and just outside of the top-25 in the United Soccer Coaches Poll.
> WSU was picked to finish fourth in the Preseason Pac-12 Coaches poll, the highest preseason pick in program history.
> The Cougs finished the 2018 campaign 13-6-1 overall with a second round exit from the NCAA Tournament against #1 Georgetown.
> Eight of WSU's 11 starters return for 2019 headlined by captains
Morgan Weaver up top and
Ella Dederick in goal. Additionally, sophomore
Mykiaa Minniss returns to lead the defense after earning Pac-12 All-Freshman honors and in TopdrawerSoccer.com was ranked No. 10 on the Top 100 Freshmen list as well as earning a spot on the Freshmen Best XI First Team.
>
Morgan Weaver, fresh off a career year and a first team all-region selection was named to the MAC Hermann Trophy Watch List as one of the top players in the country.
> As a team, WSU scored 41 goals in 2018, the sixth most in single-season history. Weaver led the way with a career-best 13 goals.
> Defensively, WSU allowed 23 goals and posted five shutouts. Dederick was 5-0 on the year with 2.5 shutouts and just 2 goals against before suffering a season-ending knee injury. WSU has an elite squad of keepers heading into the year with Dederick and fifth-year senior
Rachel Johnson, who was a two-time Pac-12 Goalkeeper of the Week in 2018, between the posts.
> In addition to the returning players WSU welcomed 10 new faces led by grad transfer
Averie Collins from Stanford. Collins won a national title with the Cardinal in 2017.
PRESEASON NOTES
Playing their one and only exhibition contest of the preseason, Washington State soccer looked to be already in midseason form as the Cougars ran roughshod over their hosts, San Diego State, with a 5-0 win Friday night at SDSU Sports Deck. The Cougs got a look at all its weapons with goals coming from grad-transfer
Averie Collins, senior star
Morgan Weaver (2),
Elyse Bennett, ad newcomer
MacKenzie Frimpong-Ellertson. In addition to two goals, Weaver added a pair of assists for a six point night. Â Defensively, the Cougs allowed just one shot on goal en route to combined shutout by veteran keepers
Ella Dederick and
Rachel Johnson.
SEASON OPENING SUCCESS
Throughout the years the Cougs have been successful in season openers having posted an impressive 23-5-2 record. In true road contests, WSU has been impressive 8-0-1 all-time. Last season the Cougars' met Seattle to open the year in Pullman, defeating the Redhawks 3-1. The Cougs have dominated Seattle in the all-time series, going 13-1-0 including a 5-0-0 record in Seattle.Â
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