PULLMAN, Wash. – The Washington State Cougar soccer team opened its 2024 season with a 1-0 loss at Purdue University in West Lafayette, Ind., Thursday night, following a day of rainstorms across Folk Field. WSU senior goalkeeper Nadia Cooper made six saves in the match, but the Cougars were unable to keep a 76th-minute Boilermaker strike from finding the net, dropping just their second all-time road result to open a season.
 
The Cougars played without possession for much of the first half, jumping on counter-attacking and loose-ball opportunities. Senior defenders Reese Tappan, Jenna Studer, and junior transfer Maggie Mace all played a full 90 minutes in WSU's backline and were called upon early for big tackles in the penalty area.
 
Redshirt senior Grayson Lynch returned to the pitch for the first time in 12 months, causing chaos in the attacking third in the seventh minute with a blocked clearance from the Boilermakers' goalkeeper. The deflected pass bounced away from Lynch, but created early pressure on Purdue's back line that was trying to build out of the back.
 
The Cougars' best chance in the opening half came from sophomore Reagan Kotschau in the 23rd minute. Kotschau ran at the far post, getting her head to an inswinging cross from Rajanah Reed. Kotschau connected with pace, but pushed the header just wide of the post.
 
Returning from halftime in a scoreless match, Lynch put the Cougars strongest shot on goal fewer than 60 seconds into the second stanza. The Castle Rock, Colorado native jumped on a loose ball between a pair of Purdue defenders, before rocketing the shot to the bottom middle of the goal frame from 20 yards out. Purdue's Emily Edwards collected the knuckling strike to keep the game level.
 
Cooper was called upon five times in the second half, including a highlight-reel tip save in the 68th minute. Purdue's Chiara Singarella aimed for the upper left corner of Cooper's goal, looping a free kick over the WSU wall, and forcing Cooper to make an outstretched save to the top corner and keep the match scoreless for eight more minutes.
 
Following Purdue's 76th-minute goal, WSU had one last shot on frame, courtesy of Reagan Kotschau. The Colorado sophomore punched a second header towards goal, this time on frame, and forcing Purdue to make the save to secure the lead.
 
WSU finished with seven shots to Purdue's 16, while the Boilermakers made fewer saves, 6-3. The Cougars tallied just one corner kick, while Purdue had nine set pieces from the corner flag.

Washington State returns to Pullman to host Montana in the home opener, Thursday, Aug. 22 at 7 p.m. at Lower Soccer Field with coverage on ESPN+. The match is a beach party theme with bucket hat giveaways while supplies last.
 
Match Notes

• The Cougars lost just their second all-time road season opener falling to 10-2-1 in season-openers at opponent venues
• Freshman Kendall Campbell made her Cougar and collegiate debut, entering the match in the 36th minute and playing 25 total minutes
• Three incoming transfers made their Washington State debuts, including Julianna Duckett and Maggie Mace in the starting lineup with Ashly Berge joining as a substitute in the 31st minute
• Nadia Cooper made six saves in the match, bringing her career total to 163 saves and three saves shy of sixth all-time in Cougar goalkeeping history