SAN DIEGO – The Washington State women's soccer team tied San Diego, 1-1 Saturday night at Torero Stadium. The Cougars trailed at halftime for the first time this year, fighting back with a 71st-minute equalizer from senior
Jordyn Young, her team-leading third goal of the season, to earn a result in the first road game of West Coast Conference action.
WSU controlled the match throughout, looking to build up possession through the midfield, while USD took a more vertical offensive approach. San Diego grabbed the early lead on a 12th-minute goal from Katelyn Bessemer, capitalizing off an errant clearance. Freshman goalkeeper
Sidney Venier, in first career start, punched an initial cross away before Bessemer trapped the loose ball and struck it from the top of the penalty box to the far lower corner.
Wazzu responded quickly to the early goal, just the second first-half goal conceded, when
Isabelle Wright put a strike on target from the top of the box in the 20th minute, forcing San Diego into one of five saves. Moments later, freshman
Ava Ghoreishi was fouled in the box, as the referee pointed to the penalty spot. Wazzu's
Maizy Kluksdal stepped up, but could not convert the penalty after a lengthy video review confirmed the foul.
In the 33rd minute, WSU's forward duo of
Journey Middleborn and
Jordyn Young nearly combined for the equalizer. Young pressured the Toreros' GK into a tough pass, which Middleborn jumped on and intercepted before playing back to Young about seven yards from goal. Young pushed the first-time shot just over the crossbar and the Cougars found themselves in unfamiliar territory, trailing at halftime for the first time this season.
The Cougars' equalizer would come in the 71st minute , the second-latest WSU goal this season, when Young netted her team-leading third goal off of a long throw-in from freshman
Aaya McLyn. Young collected McLyn's toss with her back to goal near the right post, taking a pair of touches to turn her defender, before threading the shot to the back left post. McLyn was credited with her first career assist.
Washington State had the chance to steal a win in the final five minutes, first when Ghoreishi struck a ball first-time that came over her shoulder and into the penalty area. The true freshman scooped the shot just over the crossbar. In the 89th minute, McLyn nearly tallied her own goal, floating a free kick in from 30 yards out, forcing the San Diego 'keeper to punch the save off the underside of the crossbar.
WSU continues conference play on the road at Saint Mary's, Wednesday, October 8, at Moraga, California. The Cougs and Gaels are scheduled to kick off at 4 p.m. on ESPN+.
