In Case You Missed It
PULLMAN – Before the popcorn had finished popping and the Coug faithful had barely settled into their seats at Lower Soccer Field
the Cougars had already found the back of the net as #23 Washington State (3-0-0) lit up the scoreboard in the first 45' of action on its way to a 6-3 win over James Madison (1-2-0). Behind six first half strikes the Cougars put away a pesky Dukes squad to finish their first weekend at home with a pair of wins and 12 total goals scored.
For the Cougars it was
Makamae Gomera-Stevens who began the onslaught with one of the fastest goals in program history as the third-year midfielder scored just :21 seconds into the contest to start the barrage for WSU. Stealing a clearance at the corner of the 18, Gomera-Stevens took one touch and lofted a left-footed strike just inside the near post for her first goal of the young season. The goal continued her stellar weekend after picking up a pair of assists two nights prior. Not even 10 minutes later the Cougars struck again, this time from the left-side on a blast from freshman
MacKenzie Frimpong-Ellertson. Pinging the ball around the attacking third the duo of
Elyse Bennett and
Averie Collins were able to break down the Dukes' defense before leading the first year midfielder into the 18. Just like Gomera-Stevens, Frimpong-Ellertson took one touch and blasted a ball right over JMU's keeper's head while putting enough pace on her strike to force it through her outstretched hands.
Up two and pressing for more the Cougs would tack on three goals in a 10-minute span including a brace from Collins. The big target in the middle of the pitch came up with her first goal of the afternoon on a corner in the 15' before coming up with a second strike in the run of play seven minutes later. Collins second tally looked a lot like the goal she had set up nearly 10 minutes earlier as the fifth-year transfer slotted one in on the near post after getting a lead pass behind the defense from
Morgan Weaver who had connected with Frimpong-Ellertson in the midfield.
The Cougars' early onrush would see a fifth goal scored in the 25' from the penalty spot as
Molly Myers broke free behind the backline only to be tackled in the box by the Dukes' keeper. The foul gave WSU it's third penalty kick of the year which redshirt-senior
Shayna Whieldon calmly buried for what was her first career goal.
The Dukes struck back with their first goal of the afternoon in the 31' thanks to the singular effort of Haley Crawford. The Dukes' striker fought her way into the offensive third before crossing a shot back to the far post for the goal. The goal was the first allowed by the Cougars on the year. Despite the response by JMU the Cougars continued to press the attack, earning another corner late in the opening half that would eventually lead to an own goal. A dangerous ball into the middle of the six by
Kelis Barton was inadvertently headed into the goal by JMU as a Duke defender was spooked by a handful of Cougar attackers in range of the service.
With six goals scored in the opening half the Cougars could not help but let up slightly, a mistake that allowed the Dukes' to grab the momentum and a pair of goals early in the final 45 minutes of play. An accidental handball in the box gifted the Dukes their second tally of the contest as JMU's Iris Rabot answered Whieldon's PK with one of her own in the 55'. Just four minutes later the Dukes' struck again, this time in the run of play. A cross to the top of the box found the foot of Ebony Wiseman who banged one off the inside of the far post and into the side netting to cut WSU's lead in half at 6-3. Despite the sudden change in momentum the Cougars would regroup to halt any thoughts of a JMU comeback over the final 30 minutes of the game to close out the victory.
Stat of the Match
The six first half goals were the most for the Cougars since a seven goal first half at Montana in 2002.
The Moments That Made The Match
Things You Need To Know
- The Cougs' picked up their first win over JMU in three all-time contests. WSU improved to 2-0 on the weekend and at home while outscoring Montana and JMU 12-3. On the year WSU has outscored its' opponents, all of which were 2018 NCAA Tournament teams, 16-3. The 16 goals are the most to start a season since scoring 17 in three games to begin the 1991 season (the second DI season for WSU).
- The 12 goals scored over the weekend are the most goals scored in back-to-back contests since a 13-goal weekend, Sept. 22-24, 2000 when WSU defeated Gonzaga (4-1) and Portland State (9-0) at Lower Soccer Field.
- Five different Cougars scored in the game with Gomera-Stevens and Whieldon scoring their first goals of the season. For Whieldon it was her first career goal.
- Collins scored two goals and added an assist to finish with five points. The brace was the second of her career after scoring a pair of goals against Oregon State in 2016 while at Stanford. She finished the weekend with three goals and one assist.
- Brianna Alger picked up her fourth assist of the year, all of which have come on corner kicks, on the third goal of the contest. The starting left back has kept the exact pace of Maddy Haro's record-breaking 2018 season when the now-graduated standout recorded 15 assists from the same position.
- The Cougars are back in action Thursday, Sept. 5 when they head up the road to take on Gonzaga in Spokane, Wash. The regional rivalry dates back to 1990, the first DI season for WSU, with 25 total meetings, the last of which came in 2016.
