IRVINE, Calif. – The Washington State women's soccer team lost to UC Irvine, 0-2 Sunday afternoon at Anteater Stadium in Irvine, California. The Cougars conceded two second-half goals and suffered their first road loss of the season and first loss since August 14.
WSU held UCI scoreless for the opening stanza on a breezy, clear afternoon in southern California. Redshirt-senior goalkeeper
Keara Fitzgerald was called on for five saves, her third match eclipsing five stops. In the 23rd minute, the senior 'keeper came off her line to beat an Anteater attacker in the 6-yard box. She added a strong left-hand save in the 36th minute to end a dangerous counterattack.
UC Irvine would find the game-winning goal moments into the second half, catching the Cougars flat-footed out of halftime. The Anteaters finished from a tight right angle, beating a diving Fitzgerald to the ground, and finishing at the far post with 45:15 on the scoreboard.
Wazzu nearly equalized in the 49th minute when redshirt-senior
Jordyn Young was denied in the 6-yard box. The game opened up as the Cougars created chances, including a 58th minute header from freshman
Journey Middleborn that was directed just over the crossbar into the top netting. Fellow freshman
Ava Ghoreishi followed with a 65th minute free kick that she could not bring onto frame from 22 yards out.
Less than two minutes later, Ghoreishi played a long ball to Young to spring a WSU counter attack. Young played a cross in to Middleborn who was not able to fully redirect the service with her head from inside the penalty area.
After avoiding a booking for the first five matches of the season, the Cougars earned five yellow cards and a red card Sunday afternoon. Senior Maggie Macie,
Journey Middleborn, and
Kiera Mitchell all earned cautions, while Ghoreishi picked up a first-half yellow card before being sent off in the 82nd minute for a second yellow-card offense.
The Anteaters sealed the victory with an 82nd minute header from inside the 6-yard box. UCI headed home the insurance goal from a right-side cross from the endline that gave Irvine its first win over WSU since 1991.
After three-consecutive games in California, the Cougars return to Pullman and Lower Soccer Field to host North Dakota State, Thursday, September 18 at 7 p.m. on ESPN+ in the final nonconference home game of the 2025 season.
