Box Score PULLMAN, Wash. – The Washington State Cougar soccer team defeated the Montana Grizzlies, 3-0, Thursday night at Lower Soccer Field in front of 2,626 fans, the fourth-largest crowd in program history. Sophomore Reagan Kotschau scored the game-winning goal in the 22nd minute to open the scoring with freshman Kendall Campbell and senior Raniyah Burton adding their first career goals to secure the win.
 
"It was a good response after a long week," Coach Todd Shulenberger said postgame. "This was a mature response. It wasn't the best of starts for the first 10-15 minutes, but then we took ahold of the game and from there it was a good performance. It was a great crowd and how about getting that first win for Anne McCoy as Athletic Director."
 
Two Cougars earned their first career assists at WSU, beginning with junior Maggie Mace providing the flicked on header to keep the ball live for the game-winning goal. Tappan also earned an assist for playing the initial header into the area. Senior transfer Ashly Berge also tallied an assist, the seventh of her career and first at WSU, playing Campbell forward in the center of the park before she found the net.
 
With a 2-0 lead entering the break, WSU continued to control possession and create pressure in the second half. As Montana hunted for a goal, the Cougs re-organized to punish the offensive Griz with long spells of possession and quick attacks into the final third.
 
The Cougars clinched the win when Burton found the back of the net in the 82nd minute. Burton's first goal as a Coug found the back of the open net off a cross from senior Grayson Lynch. Lynch, who earned her eighth career assist, dribbled at Montana's near post before slipping a low, driven ball toward Burton in the 6-yard box.
 
"Keeping the clean sheet is really important," Kotschau said of holding Montana scoreless. "At the end we were really fatigued, but were able to work together as a team and keep possession and work the game."
 
Nadia Cooper and the Cougar back line secured their first shutout of the season and first shutout since holding Colorado scoreless in Pullman last October. Cooper made five saves in the match to move to sixth all-time in Cougar goalkeeping history with 169 career saves.
 
Washington State returns to Lower Soccer Field Sunday night to welcome regional rival Idaho, August 25. The Cougars will host the Vandals at 7 p.m. PT for a Wazzu Whiteout with coverage on ESPN+.
 
Match Notes

• The announced attendance of 2,626 fans marked the fourth-largest crowd in WSU history
• The Cougars improved to 23-8-5 in home openers at Lower Soccer Field
• Reagan Kotschau scored her first goal of the season (5th career), the game-winner in the 22nd
• Kendall Campbell scored her first career goal, scoring in the 40th minute
• Raniyah Burton made her WSU debut, subbing on in the 78th minute and scoring her first Cougar goal less than three minutes later
• Maggie Mace earned her first WSU assist (2nd career), flicking the ball on for Kotschau's game-winner
• Ashly Berge earned her first WSU assist (7th career), playing on to Kendall Campbell for her goal
• Reese Tappan (5th career) and Grayson Lynch (8th career) each earned their first assists of the season
• Sophie Beadle made her WSU debut, subbing on in the second half
• Alena Watts made her second career start and first start of the season
• Rajanah Reed made her seventh career start and first start of the season
• Grayson Lynch played in her 80th career match at Wazzu
• Jenna Studer and Megan Santa Cruz each earned their 20th career start at WSU
• Linsdey Turner made her 40th match appearance as a Cougar
• The WSU soccer program earned its 350th all-time win with a record of 350-253-74 all-time
• The Cougars earned their 40th all-time win in the month of August with a record of 40-14-7
• Nadia Cooper made five saves in the match and moved to sixth in WSU goalkeeping history with 169 career saves
• Head Coach Todd Shulenberger's career record improved to 99-55-23
• First shutout for the Cougs and Nadia Cooper since beating Colorado, 1-0, October 19, 2023