WASHINGTON STATE (10-2-3, 4-1-2)
vs #8 UCLA (13-0-2, 5-0-2) | Sun., Oct. 24 | 5 p.m. | Lower Soccer Field 
  Watch Live | Pac-12 Network (Analyst: Greg Heister)
  Live Statistics | StatBroadcast

OPENING XI
> The Cougs have a chance to play themselves off the bubble as they host #8 UCLA Sunday. The Bruins sit three-points ahead of the Cougs in the standings. The last time the Bruins came to town in 2018 the Cougs came away with a 1-0 win over the then #2 ranked UCLA.
> Last time out the Cougs outplayed the #5 Trojans but settled for a scoreless draw Thursday night. The Cougs were the first team to take a result against USC in Pac-12 play on the year.
> WSU has recorded 11 shutouts on the year, the 2nd most in program history and four off the all-time record of 15 set in 2013. 
> The 10 wins marks the fifth time in seven seasons under coach Shulenberger the Cougs have hit double-digit wins (2021 spring was just a 12 game season in which WSU went 6-3-3).
> The defense has been up to the task in 2021 allowing a nation's low six goals (0.38 GAA) while posting 11 shutouts.
> Freshman Nadia Cooper  leads the nation with a 0.30 GAA having conceded just three goals in 11 appearances. Her 6 solo shutouts is one away from the Cougs' single-season top-10.
> The offense has scored 33 goals with 10 different players recording a goal and eight different game-winners. WSU's offense ranks 7th in shots per game (20.47) and 35th in scoring (2.20 gpg). WSU is +27 in goals scored on the year.
> Elyse Bennett leads the attack with 9 goals, 3rd in the Pac-12, and 21 points. She has scored four goals in seven Pac-12 games.
> Under head coach Todd Shulenberger, the Cougs have gone 43-16-9 at home in six-plus seasons including 4-2-2 this season.
> The Cougs RPI jumped 43 in the adjusted RPI after their draw with USC Thursday. The Cougs take on UCLA (25), Oregon State (33), and Oregon (41) in three of their final four.
> WSU was picked 5th by the Pac-12 coaches in the preseason poll marking the third-straight year picked in the top half of the conference.

SENIOR DAY
Playing in what may be the final home match of their illustrious careers, the Cougs will honor eight seniors Sunday evening prior to the contest against the Bruins. The Cougs five super seniors (Brianna Alger, Elyse Bennett, Aaqila McLyn, Sydney Pulver, Marissa Zucchetto) and traditional seniors (Kelis Barton, Mykiaa Minniss, Sydney Studer) will take part in the ceremony to honor their accomplishments while in the Crimson and Gray. Barton, Minniss, and Studer all have the options of coming back in 2022 due to covid-19 rules while McLyn could opt for a 6th year due to an injury that cost her the 2021 season.
In all the seniors have been a part of the most historically successful runs in program history, taking the team to knew heights including the Cougs' first College Cup in 2019.

COUGS VS BRUINS
Another tough test comes to Pullman as the Cougs host #8 UCLA Sunday for the second top-10 tilt of the weekend. The Bruins sit three points clear of the Cougs in the standings after picking up a 3-1 win over Washington Thursday in Seattle. The Bruins have yet to be defeated in 2021 as they enter the game 13-0-2 overall and 5-0-2 in Pac-12 play. 
The Cougs are looking to get back on track against UCLA having dropped the last two matches against the Bruins including a 4-0 loss in LA last season. The last three contests between the two sides has been down in LA with the last match in Pullman coming back in 2018 when the Cougs knocked off then #2 UCLA, 1-0, in what was the biggest upset in program history. The Cougs would match the feat a year later in LA with another 1-0 win over then #8 UCLA.
The Bruins enter the match Sunday led by Mia Fishel as the all-american striker has posted 11 goals on the year including a pair on Thursday against the Huskies. Defensively the Bruins have allowed just 11 goals on the year and have produced 7 shutouts overall.

LAST TIME OUT
Taking it to one of the top teams in the country, Washington State (10-2-3, 4-1-2) was forced to settle for a scoreless draw with No. 5 USC (11-2-1, 6-0-1) Thursday night at Lower Soccer Field. Despite a 24-to-19 shot advantage, including 6-to-1 in overtime, the Cougs could just not find the breakthrough needed to secure the upset win over the Trojans as both team's defenses held up against a bevy of attacking chances from the high-powered offenses running at them throughout the night. 

KEEPING IT CLEAN ON THE SCORE SHEET
On pace for a historic defensive season in 2021, the Cougars have been nearly perfect on the year having posted 11 shutouts and just 6 goals against in 15 contests. The 11 shutouts is tied for 2nd all-time.
The 11 shutouts makes the 2021 Cougs the 7th squad with double-digit shutouts in a season and within reach of the all-time record of 15 set in 2013.
The Cougs set the record for consecutive-shutouts at Colorado with their 6th-straight, snapping the previous mark of 5 set in 2013. They would capture the consecutive shutout minute record with nearly a full month of shutout soccer posting a record 578:45 minutes of scoreless soccer before #14 Stanford snapped the run.

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