PULLMAN, Wash. – Coming off another successful campaign the Washington State University soccer team is set for the 2022 season as the official schedule with dates and opponents has been announced by the conference office. Times and Pac-12 Network games have been finalized with the Cougs appearing on national television 12 times including eight home contests at Lower Soccer Field.
 
The new year kicks off August 12 with a regional matchup as the Cougs host Gonzaga under the lights in Pullman for their one and only exhibition of the preseason. With one game of tune up the Cougs begin the regular season on the road back where their 2021 campaign closed as WSU heads to Ann Arbor to take on Michigan, Aug. 18. The two teams have met just once prior with the Wolverines taking the 2019 season opener over the Cougs in Pullman. Last season, Michigan played its way to the NCAA Tournament's final eight before bowing out to the eventual national champion Florida State Seminoles in Tallahassee.
 
With the opening road trip behind them the Cougs return home to play five of the next six contests beginning with a weekend run against Portland (Aug. 25) and Eastern Washington (Aug. 28). The matchup against the Eagles also marks the first contest for WSU on the Pac-12 Network as the two local rivals face off for the third-straight season and the eighth time in program history.
 
WSU looks for some revenge from the season prior with a quick trip west to take on Seattle, Sept. 1, as the Redbirds stunned the Cougs in Pullman for just the second time in 17 matches in 2021. The Cougs have made Seattle a home away from home having taken all seven meetings on the Westside including a 2-1 win in the Spring of 2021. The final three-match homestand of non-conference play brings Denver (Sept. 4), Cal Poly (Sept. 11) and Northern Colorado (Sept. 15) to Lower Soccer Field. The first two matches will see the Cougs on the Pac-12 Network while the Denver and Northern Colorado matches are return trips from the 2021 season. The Cougs swept the trip to the Rockies beating the Pioneers, 2-0, and the Bears, 3-0, to close out last season's non-conference play.
 
The final non-con match of the year sends the Cougs to California to take on Saint Mary's (Sept. 18). The last time WSU faced off against the Gaels the Cougs prevailed, 1-0, in Pullman in 2017. Before returning home the Cougs head to Corvallis to kick off conference play on the Pac-12 Network as WSU looks to extend its four-match winning streak over the Beavers. Last season the Cougs downed OSU, 3-2, in overtime in their late season push for their 14th trip to the NCAA Tournament.
 
Home Pac-12 play ends the month of September and begins the month of October as the Mountain Schools head to the Palouse. The Cougs have dominated the matchup against Colorado (Sept. 29) and Utah (Oct. 2) winning the last five meetings between the teams including three-straight against the Buffs.
 
Another quick trip south takes the Cougs to Cal (Oct. 6) and Stanford (Oct. 9). The Cougs have won three-straight against the Bears including taking the last matchup in Berkeley in 2019 where WSU prevailed 1-0 in overtime. The Sunday matchup pits the Cougs against the Cardinal where WSU will try to avenge its lone loss in conference play from a season ago.
 
The final month sees the Cougs play four of their final six matches at home beginning with a three-match homestand against Oregon (Oct. 14), Arizona State (Oct. 20), and Arizona (Oct. 23). The Cougs shutout both Oregon and Arizona in 2021 while drawing with the Sun Devils, 2-2, in Tempe last season.
 
A final road trip to the California sends the Cougs to take on the top of the table from 2021 where WSU will face defending Pac-12 champion UCLA (Oct. 27) and finally USC (Oct. 30). Last season the Cougs picked up a pair of home draws against the two Los Angeles teams, however 2022 will have a different look for WSU to face as both UCLA and USC enter the new year with new coaches and new players dotting their rosters.
 
2022's regular season comes to a close in Pullman with the 33rd addition of the Boeing Apple Cup Series on Nov. 4 against Washington. The Cougs claimed the 2021 edition in dominant fashion, cruising to a 4-2 win over the Huskies in Seattle. All-time WSU leads the series 15-9-8 with a 9-2-5 record at home in Pullman.

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