CALIFORNIA vs WASHINGTON STATE
Thursday, September 4 at 3 p.m. PT
Berkeley, Calif. at Edwards Field
Streaming: ACCNX (Greg Wong & Keely Roy)

COUGARS VISIT CALIFORNIA
The Washington State women's soccer team returns to the road to face the Golden Bears, Thursday, September 4, at 3 p.m. in Berkeley. The Cougars and Bears met regularly as conference foes in the Pac-12. Thursday's match marks the first meeting since October 13, 2023, when WSU tied Cal, 1-1 in the programs' first meeting as nonconference opponents. All-time the Cougs are 3-11-3 at Edwards Field.

THE COUGARS AND THE GOLDEN BEARS
WSU and Cal first met back in September 1990 and competed for 32 years as conference foes. Thursday's match will mark the third-straight trip to Berkeley for the Cougs. Since Coach Shulenberger took the helm of the Wazzu program, WSU holds a 3-4-1 record against the Golden Bears. WSU senior transfer Jordyn Young played three seasons in four years at California, appearing in 25 matches with four starts, one goal, and one assist.

LAST TIME ON THE PITCH
The Cougars hosted No. 13 Georgia for a Sunday matinee against the Bulldogs, tying the visitors, 1-1, behind a 12th minute goal from Audrey Shackelford. Georgia would equalize in the second half as WSU earned its first result against a top-15 side since 2021 and netted the program's 100th all-time goal against top-15 opponents. Goalkeeper Keara Fitzgerald earned his second-career assist on the score, the first by a WSU keeper since Nadia Cooper in 2021 at Colorado.

ABOUT THE GOLDEN BEARS
California has played four opponents this nonconference that the Cougars will see later in the season, drawing Saint Mary's in an exhibition match, defeating UC San Diego and San Francisco, and falling to Pepperdine. Long-time head coach Neil McGuire entered his 19th season leading the Golden Bears. Returning standout goalkeeper Teagan Wy earned Preseason All-ACC honors for the second-straight season with senior Coco Thistle leading the attack.

LOOKING AHEAD
The Cougs will return home for classes but return to the Golden State for a two-game swing at UC San Diego and UC Irvine next Thursday and Sunday. WSU hosted both schools last year in Pullman, drawing them 1-1 in September. Jenna Studer scored the Cougs goal against the Anteaters.

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.

COACH TODD SHULENBERGER
Head Coach Todd Shulenberger began his 11th season at the helm of the Cougar soccer program and currently holds a 106-61-31 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.