BERKELEY, Calif. – The Washington State women's soccer team played to a scoreless draw with the California Golden Bears Thursday afternoon at Edwards Field in Berkeley, California. WSU senior goalkeeper Keara Fitzgerald made a career-high 11 saves as the Cougars earned their first shutout of the season.
 
California held the early advantage, delivering nine shots in the first half and forcing Fitzgerald into six first-half saves. The redshirt-senior 'keeper delivered her biggest save of the opening half in the 40th minute, making a 1-on-1 save inside the penalty area to stop a quick transition attack from Cal.
 
After halftime, the Cougars found their footing, tallying seven second-half shot attempts with five shots on target. In the 63rd minute, freshman midfielder Ava Ghoreishi trapped a loose clearance at the top of the area. Ghoreishi volleyed the shot through traffic and right into the arms of Cal goalkeeper Teagan Wy.
 
In the 66th minute, Fitzgerald tracked a strong shot through traffic, parrying the strike down to a nearby defender for clearance.  Fitzgerald would add five second-half saves, delivering the most single-match saves by a Cougar goalkeeper since April 16, 2021. Marissa Zucchetto made 13 saves in a match against Washington in the rescheduled 2020 season at WSU's Indoor Practice Facility.
 
The final half hour of the game opened up as the Cougars applied more pressure in the Bears' defensive area. Approaching the 71st minute, freshman Maizy Kluksdal put her head on a cross from sophomore Audrey Shackelford. Kluksdal's header went just wide of the left post in just her third shot of her career.
 
WSU redshirt-freshman Kiera Mitchell also had a strong attempt on goal with her head, finding a floating cross from junior Alena Watts in the 82nd minute. Mitchell put pace on the shot, but placed it right into the arms of Cal's Wy.
 
Washington State returns to California next week to play UC San Diego, Thursday, September 11, and UC Irvine, Sunday, September 14 in southern California. The Cougars played both UC schools to 1-1 draws last season, with current sixth-year senior Jenna Studer scoring against the Anteaters. Both matches will be streamed live on ESPN+.