PULLMAN, Wash. – The Washington State women's soccer team defeated North Dakota State, 2-0 Thursday evening at Lower Soccer Field. The Cougars (2-2-3) earned their third shutout of the year and first win at home behind a first-half penalty conversion from Maggie Mace and an insurance goal late in the second-half from Abigail Siddall.
 
After an initial 20-minute spell to sort the tactics, the Cougars took control of the match, delivering 11 first-half shots, including Mace's 29th minute penalty game-winning goal. Mace scored her first goal as a Coug after a Bison defender deflected a WSU cross with her arm and the referee pointed the spot. Mace converted her first career collegiate penalty kick attempt and scored her first goal since her sophomore season at Coastal Carolina in 2023.
 
WSU had other first-half chances including an eighth-minute freekick strike from Kiera Mitchell at the top of the box. Jordyn Young pushed a glancing header just wide left of goal in the 14th minute. Before netting her game-winner, Mace zipped a shot against the left goal post in the 27th minute.
 
The Bison's best chance came early in the first half when Mace was called upon for a goal-line save after WSU goalkeeper Keara Fitzgerald came off her line to close down the angle. Fitzgerald suffered an injury in the 72nd minute, offering senior goalkeeper Zora Standifer the chance to make her WSU debut.
 
The WSU freshmen trio of Ana de los Santos, Maizy Kluksdal, and Ashle Reese all made their first career collegiate starts. Freshman Aaya McLyn also saw her first minutes as a Coug, debuting as a sub in the 38th minute.
 
WSU grad transfer Abigail Siddall sealed the game in the 83rd minute for her first career goal as a Coug. Siddall, who'd had a similar chance 10 minute earlier, scored on her second attempt, floating a right-footed shot over the Bison 'keeper and into the far upper corner. Siddall received the ball from a perfectly-weighted pass from sophomore Audrey Shackelford, who notched her first assist as a Coug after receiving the build-up pass from freshman Isabelle Wright on the right side. Wright was credited with the second assist, her first collegiate assist.
 
The Washington State Cougars will travel to Missoula, Montana for their final nonconference game of the season, facing the Grizzlies, Sunday, September 21 at 10 a.m. PT (11 a.m. MT) live on ESPN+.