ATHENS, Ga. – The Washington State Cougar soccer team (3-2-2) defeated Georgia Southern, 1-0, in a neutral site meeting at the University of Georgia in Athens, Georgia. Senior Lindsey Turner scored the game-winning goal in the 51st minute and goalkeeper Nadia Cooper picked up her second shutout of the season.
 
The Cougars controlled nearly two-thirds of possession and pressed into the attacking third often, putting up 20 shots, including seven shots on goal, with four corner kicks. Wazzu and Georgia Southern played to a scoreless halftime break with the Cougs outshooting the Eagles 12-2 and forcing the GSU goalkeeper into four saves.
 
Washington State returned from intermission with a similar strategy, breaking through less than six minutes into the second period on a long through ball from sophomore Alena Watts. Watts, a Georgia native, delivered the aerial ball into the penalty area where Turner rose to meet it and finish for the game-winner. The assist was Watts' first-career point and assist to mark her homecoming to the Peach State.
 
Overall, WSU outshot the Sun Belt side 20-6, including a career-high six attempts from sophomore Megan Santa Cruz. On the defensive end, the Cougs picked up their second cleansheet of the season, while limiting Georgia Southern to six shots with Nadia Cooper making three saves.
 
Cooper earned her 29th career goalkeeping win, moving her into a tie for fourth in WSU goalkeeping wins history with Lindsay Jorgensen (1998-2001). The Texas senior also earned career shutout No. 16 and sits two cleansheets behind Jorgensen in school history.
 
Fifth-year senior Grayson Lynch started in the match, marking her 85th career game played, and moving into a tie for seventh in WSU school history with Morgan Weaver and Aaqila McLyn for career appearances by a field player.
 
The win marked the Cougars' first road victory of the season and first shutout away from Lower Soccer Field since winning 1-0 at Portland, Aug. 24, 2023.
 
Washington State will stay in Athens, Georgia to facing the hosting Georgia Bulldogs, Sunday, Sept. 15. The Cougars and Bulldogs will kick off from Turner Soccer Complex at 1 p.m. ET (10 a.m. PT) with coverage on SEC Network+.
 
Match Notes

• Lindsey Turner scored her first goal of the season, second career goal at WSU (first since scoring vs Cal Poly, Sept. 11, 2022) and third career college goal
• Alena Watts earned her first-career point and first-career assist with Turner's goal
• The Cougs moved to 2-0-0 all-time against Georgia Southern
• Nadia Cooper moved to tied for fourth in WSU history with 29 career GK wins
• Cooper also earned her 16th career shutout and first road shutout since holding Portland scoreless in a 1-0 win at the Pilots, Aug. 24, 2023
• Grayson Lynch played in her 85th career match, tying Morgan Weaver and Aaqila McLyn for 7th-most game appearances in Cougar history
• The win marked the Cougars' first road victory of the season
• WSU earned its first road shutout Aug. 24, 2023, defeating Portland 1-0
• Julianna Duckett made her 60th career start (six at WSU, 54 at Pepperdine)
• Ashly Berge played in her 60th collegiate match (six at WSU, 54 at Boise State)
• Sophie Beadle played in her second career Coug match, making her 71st collegiate appearance