SATURDAY, OCT. 12 at 7 PM PT // 10 PM ET
PULLMAN, WASH. at LOWER SOCCER FIELD
LIVE ON ESPN+ // WSU.STATBROADCAST.COM
TALENT TREVOR WILLIAMS // PRODUCER DAVID SAUNDERS

KICKOFF NOTES
Wazzu welcomes the Portland Pilots for a Saturday evening clash on ESPN+. Kickoff is scheduled for 7:05 p.m. in the annual Pink Game at Lower Soccer Field in Pullman, Washington.

The Cougs and Pilots met last year in the Rose City where WSU earned its first program win over the blueblood school. Washington State and Portland have played 17 times, with the Pilots holding a 14-1-2 advantage. Under Coach Shulenberger, the Cougs have gotten two of their three all-time results against Portland, holding a 1-1-1 advantage since 2015.

Last time on the pitch the Cougs continued their home unbeaten streak with a 1-0 victory over Saint Mary's. WSU's Grayson Lynch scored a 5th minute goal, the fastest Coug goal of the season, as the Cougs defeated the Gaels Wednesday night. WSU controlled play for the majority of the 90 minutes, securing its fifth shutout of the season and a 5-0-2 record at Lower Soccer Field this fall.

Grayson Lynch played in her 91st career Cougar match, Wednesday night, pulling within one game of former teammate Mykiaa Minniss at third-most appearances in Coug history (excluding GKs). The sixth-year senior scored her second goal of the season and 19th career goal in the win. If Lynch plays all the remaining regular season matches, she will sit second in all-time WSU matches played with 97 behind Sydney Pulver (98).

Lynch's 5th-minute goal marked her eighth career game-winning goal, as she moved into a 4th-place tie in Cougar history. The Colorado senior will need five more game-winners to reach a 3rd-place tie in WSU career history.

In Wednesday's shutout win over Saint Mary's, Nadia Cooper earned her 19th career shutout and 31st career win. A two-time WCC Defensive Player of the Week, Cooper is third in Cougar history for GK wins and fourth in WSU career shutouts.

Cooper is set to surpass 6,000 career minutes in goal during Saturday's match. Assuming the senior starts between the sticks, she will reach the milestone in the 56th minute. Cooper is currently fourth in WSU career goalkeeping minutes.

On the horizon, the Cougars will have the mid-week Wednesday match day off before traveling north to face Gonzaga, Saturday, Oct. 19, in Spokane, Wash. Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. PT from Luger Field with a stream on ESPN+.

Match Milestones: In the last match, Grayson Lynch played in her 91st career match, moving within one game of former teammate Mykiaa Minniss with 92 career matches played, and third in Cougar history. In the next match appearance, Raniyah Burton will reach 70 career matches played (11 at WSU). With her next start, Jenna Studer will reach 50 career starts (32 at WSU).

Grayson Lynch has taken 157 career shots as a Coug, moving into 10th in career shot attempts at WSU. The Colorado sixth-year senior has scored 19 career goals and surpassed Brandi Vegas at 156 shots attempts. Lynch needs 19 additional shots to reach Carly Dobratz at ninth and 176 shots as a Coug.

Nadia Cooper surpassed 200 career saves in Saturday's match at LMU, becoming just the sixth goalkeeper in program history to reach the milestone. Cooper is currently sixth in school history with 203 total saves, and 45 saves from entering WSU's all-time top-5 in career saves.

The Pac-12 Conference formally introduced Gonzaga University as the eighth member of its 2026-27 expansion plans, last Tuesday morning, joining Boise State, Colorado State, Fresno State, San Diego State, and Utah State. Wazzu and Oregon State are currently operating as members of the Pac-12 Conference as part of a NCAA two-year grace period and will continue to do so for the 2025-26 academic season before the six new members officially join, July 1, 2026.

Cougar soccer was named No. 21 on SoccerWire's list of the Top 50 most successful women's soccer programs in the country over the last five years, as announced in August prior to the season.

True freshman Jamuna Williams made her college debut in the Oct. 2 match at No. 13 Pepperdine. Williams has battled nagging injuries in her first season, finding herself healthy and on the pitch in the 44th minute for her Cougar debut. She got her home debut in Wednesday's win over Saint Mary's.

Sophomore Natalie Lewis made her first career start in the Sept. 19 draw at Utah State. Lewis, who has played 21 matches as a Coug, put one shot on frame in 21 minutes of action against the top-10 Aggies.

Head Coach Todd Shulenberger earned his 100th win Sunday, Aug. 25, with a 2-1 win against Idaho. Shulenberger became the 140th active head coach to reach 100 career wins and the 44th to hit the century mark at a single school.

Sophomore Alena Watts tallied her first career assist and first career point in the Sept. 12 win over Georgia Southern. Watts, a Georgia native, served an aerial through ball into the Eagles' defensive area for Lindsey Turner to head home for the game-winner, giving Watts a homecoming memory and the game-winning assist in front of friends and family.

True freshman Kendall Campbell made her first college start at No. 2 Stanford. The California native has started three games and has played in every match. Campbell scored her first collegiate goal against Montana, netting the second goal in a 3-0 win in the home opener.

Shevaun Judon and Ashly Berge made their first WSU starts in the Sept. 8 draw with UCSD. Judon made her first start in 1,060 days, last starting for Liberty at North Florida, Oct. 14, 2021. Berge made her first start in 689 days, last starting for Boise State vs New Mexico, Oct. 10, 2022.

The West Coast Conference welcomed Washington State as an affiliate member in women's soccer for the 2024 and 2025 soccer seasons, alongside Oregon State. The Cougars will be eligible for the WCC's automatic NCAA Tournament bid and compete in the Conference alongside top-25 teams in Santa Clara and Pepperdine.

In the WCC Preseason Coaches Poll, the Cougars were selected to finish second, behind nationally-ranked Santa Clara and ahead of nationally-ranked Pepperdine.

Two Cougars earned WCC preseason honors with redshirt-fifth-year senior forward Grayson Lynch and sophomore midfielder Reagan Kotschau named to the WCC Preseason Team.

Follow WSU soccer on social media for the latest information on the Cougar program. Search @wsucougarsoccer on your favorite social platform or visit wsucougars.com.