UC IRVINE vs WASHINGTON STATE
Sunday, September 14 at 1 p.m. PT
Irvine, Calif. at Anteater Stadium
Streaming: ESPN+ (Luke Van Patten & Alex Waldron)

WAZZU AT IRVINE SUNDAY
The Washington State women's soccer team kicks off at UC Irvine, Sunday, September 14 at 1 p.m. at Anteater Stadium. The Cougars hosted the Anteaters last September in Pullman for the programs' sixth all-time meeting. WSU and UCI played to a 1-1 draw, with Jenna Studer scoring, as the Cougs extended their unbeaten streak vs UCI to five matches, while the 'Eaters snapped a 4-game losing skid.

THE COUGARS AND THE ANTEATERS
Last season's match marked the first meeting in over a decade and first meeting between wSU and UCI since Todd Shulenberger took the helm in Pullman. The sides played to a 1-1 draw with WSU senior Jenna Studer scoring for the Cougs. Wazzu holds a 4-1-1 all-time record against Irvine, including a five-game unbeaten stream dating back to 1992. The sides have met just twice this millennium.

LAST TIME ON THE PITCH
WSU picked up its first win of the season and second-consecutive shutout with a 1-0 win at UC San Diego, Thursday night. Redshirt-senior Jordyn Young scored her first goal as a Coug and second career goal in the 60th minute, picking off the UCSD GK to score and secure the Cougar victory with the latest goal of the season.

KEARA EARNS WCC WEEKLY HONORS
Senior goalkeeper Keara Fitzgerald was named the WCC Defensive Player of the Week, September 8, for her shutout performance at Cal, September 4. The senior tallied a career-high 11 saves, the most by a Cougar 'keeper since April 2021.

SHULENBERGER SURPASSES 200 MATCHES
Head Coach Todd Shulenberger oversaw his 200th career match at the helm of the Cougar program, Thursday in WSU's win at UC San Diego. Shulenberger began his 11th season at the helm of the Cougar soccer program and currently holds a 107-61-32 record, the winningest coach in program history. Shulenberger is the longest tenured head coach in WSU soccer history, leading the Cougars to five NCAA Tournaments in 10 seasons, including an historic run to the College Cup and the 2019 national semifinal.

ABOUT THE ANTEATERS
UC Irvine is led by 17th-year head coach Scott Juniper, leading the Anteaters to a 2-2-4 record to start the season. All-Big West selection Mihaela Perez headlined the UCI returners, while senior duo Mia and Ella Colombini control the midfield. Sophomore defender Kori Pickelle leads the Anteaters in scoring through nonconference play.

LOOKING AHEAD
Washington State returns to Pullman to host North Dakota State, Thursday, September 18 at 7 p.m. at Lower Soccer Field. The Cougars will host the Bison on ESPN+ before traveling to Missoula, Montana to face the Lady Griz, Sunday, September 22.

IF THE GLOVE FITZ
Redshirt-senior goalkeeper Keara Fitzgerald earned the starting nod in the 2025 season opener, returning to the pitch for the first time since October 2023 and the first time in a WSU uniform. Fitzgerald made six saves, the most by a Cougar keeper since Nadia Cooper made six saves against LMU last October, and has held down the starting job since. Fitzgerald tallied an assist in the Cougars' draw with No. 13 Georgia, August 31, delivering her second-career assist and the first by a Cougar goalkeeper since Nadia Cooper notched an assist against Colorado in Boulder in 2021.

STUDER EARNS ALL-WCC PRESEASON
Returning sixth-year senior Jenna Studer was named to the All-WCC preseason team. The California native will feature in the Cougars' backline after delivering a pair of goals and an assist last season, playing nearly every minute of the 2024 campaign.

2025 ROSTER RELOAD
The Cougars welcomed 20 new faces, including six transfers and 14 freshmen. WSU retained 10 returnees, including four returning starters, two additional letterwinners, and four redshirts. In the season opener against Utah State, 11 Cougs made their WSU debuts, including seven in the starting lineup. Keara Fitzgerald, Ava Ghoreishi, Kiera Mitchell, Audrey Shackelford, Becca Skinner, Isabelle Wright, and Jordyn Young all made their first career starts at WSU. Ghoreishi, Mitchell, Skinner, and Wright all played their first collegiate game. Maizy Kluksdal, Journey Middleborn, Ana de los Santos, and Emery Streets all made their WSU debuts off the bench. In the Cougars' first road game of the season Elliotte Kortus made her first career start as a Coug, alongside grad transfer Abigail Siddall, starting up top for her first WSU appearance and start.

OH CAPTAINS, MY CAPTAINS
WSU's senior trio of Maggie Mace, Peyton Price, and Jenna Studer were selected by teammates and staff as the 2025 team captains.