PULLMAN, Wash. – The No. 24 Washington State women's soccer team (7-2-0) lost to No. 2 Stanford (8-0-1), 0-1, Friday night at Lower Soccer Field. In the opening match of Pac-12 Conference play, the Cardinal scored an early first-half goal and held out against a prodding WSU attack for the final 80 minutes.

The Cougars played well from the opening kickoff, maintaining possession and finding passing lanes into the attacking third. Wazzu limited the Cardinal to eight shots in the match with the first proving the difference.
 
In the 10th minute, Stanford's Andrea Kitahata chased down a loose ball on the endline and recycled a cross back into the 6-yard box. Despite two Cougars defenders marking Mia Bhuta, the Cardinal attacker found a touch between the Cougs to finish at point-blank range.
 
Washington State continued to control much of the game despite the deficit. The Cougars had over half their possession in the attacking third and held nationally-ranked Stanford in its own half for over half the night.
 
WSU's best opportunity in the first half came from senior Brianna McReynolds. The midfielder pounced on an errant pass by the Cardinal defense. Stanford's goalkeeper slipped, as McReynolds took a touch to line up the shot, the goalkeeper recovered and saved the 1-on-1 look.
 
Returning from the break, WSU continued similar tactics, controlling midfield play and looking to exploit the flank. In the 70th minute, freshman Megan Santa Cruz nearly beat the Stanford goalkeeper to a loose ball on the goal line, but the Cardinal 'keeper smothered the opportunity and a whistle went for the foul.
 
Moments later, freshman Reagan Kotschau delivered a powerful in-swinging corner, which found the head of junior Lindsey Turner. Turner couldn't control the well-paced cross, pushing it over the crossbar. In the final moments of the match, the Cougars called forward goalkeeper Nadia Cooper, who nearly connected on a shot in the final minute.
 
In the 65th minute, there were shouts for a WSU penalty. Brianna McReynolds sprinted onto a ball at the top of the Stanford penalty area with a Cardinal defender at her back. The fifth-year senior went to ground on the challenge from behind, but the center official waved it off as a clean tackle.

The Cougars conclude a month-long homestand next weekend with two matches. Thursday, Sept. 28, WSU hosts USC. Kickoff is scheduled for 5 p.m. on Pac-12 Network. Wazzu welcomes UCLA Sunday afternoon at 1 p.m.
 
Stat of the Match
Washington State has faced a nationally-ranked Stanford in each of the last 19 meetings. The last time the Cougars faced an unranked Cardinal side came in 2003.
 
Postgame Notes

• The Cougars fall to 3-27-2 all-time against Stanford
• Anaiah Cutler made her first start of the season and second-career start
• Bryana Pizarro made her first career start as a Coug
• Bridget Rieken started her 75th match and sits one start shy of the Cougar top-10 list