PORTLAND – The No. 23 Washington State women's soccer team (3-0-0) secured a 1-0 win over the Portland Pilots (1-1-0) Thursday night at Merlo Field. WSU fifth-year senior Bridget Rieken scored the match's lone goal in the 48th minute as the Cougars picked up their program's first all-time win against the historic Portland side.
 
WSU junior goalkeeper Nadia Cooper highlighted a strong defensive performance from the Cougar backline, setting her single-game season high with nine total saves. Wazzu controlled less than 40% of possession in the match, taking advantage of threatening counterattack opportunities throughout the evening.
 
Portland started the match with a flurry of shots 10 minutes into the game. Cooper made a point-blank save on a shot from 6-yards out and reset to tip a floating cross over the crossbar before it dipped into the far corner. In total, the junior goalkeeper was called upon three times in the opening half to hold Portland scoreless.
 
Early in the second half, the Cougars earned a corner kick after fifth-year senior Grayson Lynch tried to pick out the upper left corner of the frame from outside the penalty area, forcing the Pilots' goalkeeper into a difficult save. Lynch served a high, in-swinging corner kick to the top of the 6-yard box where Rieken headed home her first goal of the season.
 
The 48th-minute goal was Rieken's seventh career goal and the first goal from a header and a set piece this season. Lynch earned her first assist of the season and seventh-career assist.
 
WSU's defense would be called upon again throughout the second half, as Portland pressed forward for the equalizer. The Cougars shifted tactics, settling into a defensive shell and working to possess the ball to kill the game out.
 
The Portland side peppered the goal late in the match, forcing Cooper into seven second-half saves, including a 90th-minute parry that was headed for the back of the net. Cooper earned her first shutout of the season, and the sixth shutout of her career, moving into a tie for fifth in WSU history for career shutouts.
 
Washington State returns home to begin an 8-game homestand, Sunday, Aug. 27 against Weber State. Kickoff is scheduled for 1 p.m. from Lower Soccer Field on Pac-12 Washington with a "Sunday Funday Arts & Crafts" theme.
 
Stat of the Match
The Cougars improved to 1-14-2 all-time against the Pilots with the program's first win over Portland.
 
Postgame Notes

• Nadia Cooper earned her first shutout of the season and seventh of her career, moving into a tie for 5th in WSU career shutout history
• Cooper picked up her 21st career win, moving her three wins shy of fifth in school history
• With the win, Todd Shulenberger earned his 92nd career victory
• The Cougars improved to 1-14-2 all-time against the Pilots
• Grayson Lynch earned her seventh career assist and first of the season
• Bridget Rieken scored her seventh career goal and first of the season
• Georgia Whitehead made her first career start after making her collegiate debut as a sub at Texas A&M
• WSU started the season 3-0-0 for the first time since the rescheduled 2020 season in spring 2021
• Redshirt-freshman Kiki Smith made her first career appearance, entering the game early in the first half