PULLMAN, Wash. – The Washington State women's soccer team announced its 2023 season schedule, the Pac-12 Conference and WSU Head Coach Todd Shulenberger announced Thursday, June 15. The Cougars will play 11 home games at Lower Soccer Field this fall, including eight-consecutive home matches between August and October.
The Cougars begin the season Thursday, Aug. 17, hosting Eastern Washington at Lower Soccer Field. The event marks the first athletic event of the 2023-24 academic year with kickoff scheduled for 7 p.m. PT on the Pac-12 Network. Last season, WSU beat EWU, 3-1, to improve to 8-0 all-time against the Eagles.
Washington State takes its first road trip of the year, Sunday, Aug. 20, traveling to College Station, Texas to face Texas A&M. The Aggies enter their first season in the SEC after a First Round exit in last year's NCAA Tournament. The programs have met three times previously, with all three matchups in the Lone Star state. Following a trip south, the Cougars will visit Portland, Thursday, Aug. 24 to face the Portland Pilots. Last season, UP traveled to Pullman, where Wazzu picked up its second result, a 0-0 draw, in 16 all-time matchups.
Shulenberger and the Cougars conclude the August schedule with a pair of home games which begin an eight-game homestand for WSU. Sunday, Aug. 27 against Weber State in a televised matchup. The Cougs have won each of the four previous meetings with the Wildcats, most recently in 2013. WSU welcomes San Diego State, Thursday, Aug. 31, for a 7 p.m. matchup with the Aztecs. During the 2021 season, the Cougars traveled to San Diego for a 3-0 win.
WSU continues its homestand with five home matches throughout September. Thursday, Sept. 7, the Gaels of Saint Mary's make a trip to the Palouse for a Pac-12 Networks matchup. Shulenberger has faced SMC twice since arriving in Pullman, with wins in both games. The weekend concludes with a Sunday matinee against Kansas. The match marks the Jayhawks first trip to Pullman, and just the second battle between the sides, after WSU won 3-0 in Lawrence in 2021.
The 2023 nonconference schedule concludes with a Thursday night match against Seattle U. Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. with coverage on the Pac-12 Networks. WSU and Seattle have faced each other seven times during Coach Shulenberger's tenure, with six wins over the Redhawks.
The 2023 Pac-12 Conference schedule kicks off in the third week of September. WSU will host Friday Night Futbol. hosting Stanford, Friday, Sept. 22. The Cougs look to end a three-game skid against the Cardinal and pick up their second result in three matches against Stanford at Lower Soccer Field.
In the final match of the month, the Cougars will play host to Southern California, Thursday, Sept. 28. The Women of Troy are scheduled to kick off against WSU in an early evening 5 p.m. match on Pac-12 Networks. The following Sunday, Oct. 1, the UCLA Bruins visit Pullman in a Noon matchup with WSU.
After an eight-game homestand, WSU will return to the road, Thursday, Oct. 5 against Arizona. The Cougars visit Tucson for the first time since the 2018 season, having hosted the Wildcats each of the last three seasons. Washington State will make the short trip to Tempe for a Sunday afternoon match against the Arizona State Sun Devils. The Pac-12 Networks will provide coverage of the ASU game with kickoff scheduled for Noon PT.
Washington State will have an extra day of rest before visiting Berkeley, Calif., to face the Golden Bears, Friday, Oct. 13. The Cougars have won three of the last four meetings with Cal, and look to avenge a 2-1 defeat last year in the Bay Area.
The Cougars will host the Conference mountain schools in their final home games of the regular season. The Buffaloes of Colorado visit Pullman, Thursday, Oct. 19, hoping to snap a 4-game unbeaten streak by WSU, which dates back to the 2019 College Cup season. WSU will recognize its seniors in the final home game of the year, Sunday, Oct. 22 against Utah with kickoff scheduled for 1 p.m.
WSU will conclude the 2023 regular season on the road, beginning Thursday, Oct. 26 in Corvallis against Oregon State. The Cougs are on a 5-game winning streak against the Beavers and have outscored OSU 11-5 over that span. The weekend concludes in Eugene with a Sunday match against Oregon, Oct. 29. Since arriving at WSU, Coach Shulenberger has not lost to the Ducks.
Washington State will travel to Seattle for the final match of the year, facing Washington in the Boeing Apple Cup Series, Friday, Nov. 3. Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. with coverage on the Pac-12 Network with Cougars seeking a second-straight win in Seattle and revenge for the Huskies win in Pullman last fall.
The 2023 WSU roster currently includes four returning fifth-year seniors, in addition to All-Pac-12 selections, rising senior Margie Detrizio and rising sophomore Lily Boyden. The Cougars added 10 newcomers this offseason, including two transfers and eight incoming freshmen with extensive club and national team experience.
