PULLMAN, Wash. – The Washington State Cougar soccer team (4-3-3) defeated the San Diego Toreros, 1-0, to clinch a win in its inaugural West Coast Conference match, Saturday night at Lower Soccer Field. Freshman Kendall Campbell found the net in the 42nd minute for the Cougars' game-winner and a second-consecutive cleansheet from the WSU backline.
 
WSU controlled possession from the opening whistle, applying pressure into the USD defensive third with nearly 70 percent of the Cougs' time in the attacking half for the first 45 minutes with eight first-half shots.
 
The Cougars broke through in the 42nd minute thanks to a one-time volley from Campbell, which proved to be the deciding goal. The true freshman got her right foot on the end of a low, driven cross from senior transfer Raniyah Burton. Burton, who earned her first career assist as a Coug, ran on to the ball from a lofted throughball from senior Reese Tappan, delivering the cross across the face of goal to the far post.
 
"These games are always tight, especially to start conference play," Coach Todd Shulenberger said postgame. "We had Raniyah get around the edge down there and cut back ball to our freshman, Kendall, who slid, committed – attitude, mentality – got into the box and finished it first time. It was a great goal."
 
With the goal, Campbell tied senior Jenna Studer as the Cougs' leading goal scorer with two goals. Burton's assist marked the fifth of her career and first since delivering an assist, Sept. 17, 2023 for Portland State against CSUN. Tappan earned her third assist of the season, tied with Reagan Kotschau for most by a Cougar. Tappan has delivered an assist in both Cougar home shutouts this season.
 
The Cougars returned from the locker room seeking a second goal to put the game out of reach, possessing throughout the opening 20 minutes of the second half. The Toreros got on the front foot in the final quarter of the match, but WSU's stout defense prevented the Toreros from any shots on target in the half.
 
"The backline has been solid all year. Nadia Cooper has been first class all year," Shulenberger added. "We may not score a lot, but we're hard to score on, and we plan to continue that in conference play moving forward."
 
With the result, Cooper earned her 18th career shutout and moved into a tied for fourth in school history with Lindsey Jorgensen. The senior also surpassed Jorgenson and picked up her 30th career win to move into a third-place tie in Cougar goalkeeping history.
 
WSU returns to action next Wednesday, Oct. 2, traveling to Malibu, California to face No. 14 Pepperdine in the first conference road match of the season. Kickoff is scheduled for 3 p.m. on ESPN+.
Match Notes

• Grayson Lynch played in her 88th career match, fourth in Coug history, moving within four games of former teammate Mykiaa Minniss (92), at third in WSU history
• Jenna Studer played in her 60th career match (31 at WSU)
• Nadia Cooper earned her second-straight shutout and third in the last four matches
• Cooper earned her 18th career-shutout, tied for fourth in school history
• Cooper earned her 30th career win, tied for third in school history
• Kendall Campbell scored her second-career goal, tied for most by a Coug this season
• Raniyah Burton earned her first-career Cougar assist, and fifth career assist (4 at PSU)
• Reese Tappan earned her third assist of the season, tied for a team-high with Reagan Kotschau
• First all-time shutout against USD with an all-time record 3-0-0