PULLMAN, Wash. – The Washington State Cougar soccer team (8-5-6) defeated Pacific, 5-0, Saturday evening to conclude the 2024 season under 10th year head coach Todd Shulenberger. Megan Santa Cruz scored a brace and senior Grayson Lynch finished with five points on a goal and three assists to conclude her career.
 
WSU score fewer than 60 seconds into the match when senior Raniyah Burton finished from a tight again near the endline. The fifth-year senior finished the shot off a long ball over the top from fellow senior Jenna Studer. Burtons goal marked her second goal as a Coug in her final college game, while Studer earned her second assist of the year.
 
In the 15th minute, sophomore Megan Santa Cruz doubled the Cougars' lead scoring her second goal of the season and first of two goals in the match. WSU took the 2-0 lead to halftime with 12 shots in the opening stanza and nine corner kicks. WSU finished the season 7-1 when leading at halftime.
 
Returning from the break, the Cougars continued to dominate scoring a pair of goals in the 51st minute, fewer than 40 seconds apart. Santa Cruz netted her second goal also on an assist from Lynch. The sixth-year senior went on to score her own goal moments later to push the lead to 4-0.
 
Grayson's goal marked her 21st career goal, moving into the WSU top-10 in career goals scored. Lynch finished tied for ninth in WSU scoring history. Just over five minutes later, Lynch was back in the action, delivering her third assist of the match to senior Lindsey Turner.
 
The Cougars scored five goals for the first time since beating Montana 5-1 in the 2018 NCAA Tournament. Lynch became the first induvial with three assists in a game since Enzi Broussard delivered three assists against Hawai'i, Sept. 5, 2021, becoming the first Coug with five points since Elyse Bennett finishes with two goals an assist in the same match against Hawai'i.
 
Senior goalkeeper Nadia Cooper capped her career with her 34th win and 22nd career shutout. Cooper finishes her career sixth in school history with 217 career saves, third in career shutouts, third in career wins, and fourth career minutes. All eight wins this season came as Cooper cleansheets.
 
Fellow senior Grayson Lynch played her 97th career game and finished with the second-most appearances in program history and one game shy of the school record.
 
Saturday's match marked the conclusion of the Cougars 2024 campaign. WSU honored 10 seniors as part of the celebrations including Sophie Beadle, Ashly Burge, Raniyah Burton, Nadia Cooper, Julianna Duckett, Grayson Lynch, Bryana Pizarro, Jenna Studer, Reese Tappan, and Lindsey Turner.
 
Match Notes

• The Cougars moved to 3-0-1 all-time against Pacific and 2-0 against the Tigers in Pullman
• Grayson Lynch played her 97th career match and finished second all-time in Cougar history for a field player – one game shy of tying the school record
• Raniyah Burton scored the fastest goal of the season, scoring her second career WSU goal in the 42nd second
• Jenna Studer earned her first assist of the season and second assist as a Coug
• Megan Santa Cruz scored her second and third goals of the year, pushing her scoring total to four career goals
• Grayson Lynch tallied her 10th, 11th, and 12th career assists in the win
• Lynch scored her fourth goal of the year and 21st career goal
• The Cougars improved to 7-1 when leading at halftime
• WSU improved to 6-0-3 at Lower Soccer Field in 2024
• Lynch recorded five shots in the match, moving up in WSU's top-10 in career shots history with 170 total shot attempts (10th in program history)
• Redshirt freshmen Liya Brooks and Elliotte Kortus made their college debuts in the second half
• Graduate transfer Sophie Beadle made her first career start for the Cougs