Box Score PULLMAN, Wash. – The Washington State women's soccer team defeated Eastern Washington, 3-1, to open the 2023 season at Lower Soccer Field, Thursday night. After falling behind in the first half, the Cougars rallied with three second-half goals to beat the Eagles in front of 3,013 fans, the second-largest crowd in program history.
 
The Cougars controlled possession early in the game, pressing forward for the opening goal. In the 10th minute, the Eagles took advantage of a loose clearance in the WSU box, as Gillian Martin played a square ball across the 6-yard box for Grace Terrill to finish for the early Eastern Washington lead.
 
Washington State continued to control the game and apply pressure for the remainder of the first half, outshooting EWU 14-2 in the opening period with 61% of possession.  WSU fifth-year senior Grayson Lynch finished the night with four shots, including two that rattled the woodwork in the first half.
 
Returning from the locker room trailing by the early goal, WSU continued to add opportunities, with the chances more accurately on frame. True freshman Megan Santa Cruz forced the Eastern goalkeeper in to an early second-half save low and to her right, as part of a flurry of five shots for the Cougs in the opening 15 minutes.
 
In the 63rd minute, Cougar senior forward Margie Detrizio found the equalizer, pouncing on a long through ball from junior Reese Tappan. Detrizio, who led WSU with 11 goals last season, split two Eagle defenders and slipped the ball under the crossbar and into the upper netting.
 
With Wazzu on the board, the flood gates opened. Less than 90 seconds later the Cougars were celebrating as freshman Reagan Kotschau tallied her first collegiate goal. Detrizio played Kotschau at the top right side of the box, where Kotschau cut inside with a right touch and scooped the game-winning goal over an advancing keeper.
 
Washington State sealed the win with the insurance goal in the 76th minute from fellow freshman Naomi Clark. Freshman forward Nat Lewis ran onto the ball at the edge of the box and played a ball to the feet of an on-running Clark. Clark held off her defender, faced up on goal, and buried her debut goal into the bottom left corner to clinch the 3-1 win.
 
"I thought we played good tonight," Head Coach Todd Shulenberger said postgame. "We moved the ball well. We had a lot of impact from a lot of players. Our freshmen proved what they're going to be able to do this year, as well as our returners up front."
 
Two Cougar freshmen scored in the opening game of the season for the fourth time in program history, and the first time since 2015 when Tia Gavin and Grace Hancock each registered a debut goal.
 
On the defensive end, WSU limited to just four shots with two on target. Nadia Cooper picked up 19th career win to move into sixth place in the program's career goalkeeper wins list.
 
The Cougar soccer program travels for its first road contest of the season, visiting College Station, Texas for a battle with the Texas A&M Aggies, Sunday evening. Kickoff is scheduled for 6 p.m. CT (4 p.m. PT) with coverage on SEC+ Network.
 
Stat of the Match
Two freshmen scored in the opening game of the season for the fourth time in program history and the first time since 2015. Reagan Kotschau and Naomi Clark became the 18th and 19th players in school history to net a debut goal in the first match of the season.
 
Postgame Notes

• Junior Nadia Cooper earned her 19th career win in the net, moving her into sixth all-time in WSU's career wins list
• Cooper also advanced to sixth all-time with 3,244 career minutes in goal
• With the win, Todd Shulenberger earned his 90th Cougar victory
• True freshmen Megan Santa Cruz and Reagan Kotschau made their first collegiate starts
• Senior transfer Keeley Copper made her first WSU career start
• True freshmen Naomi Clark, Nat Lewis, and Alena Watts all came of the bench in their first WSU appearance
• Incoming upperclassmen Rajanah Reed and Shevaun Judon earned minutes in their Cougar debuts
• WSU now holds a perfect 9-0-0 record against EWU, with 36 goals for and just 6 goals against
• Senior Margie Detrizio registered her 19th career goal and sits one goal shy of the WSU all-time top 10 list