PULLMAN, Wash. – The Washington State women’s soccer team concluded its nonconference schedule with a 2-1 win over Seattle U, Wednesday night at Lower Soccer Field. True freshman Isabella Amado scored her first collegiate goal just 54 seconds into the match to give WSU the lead. After conceding the equalizer in the first half, the Cougars forced a Seattle U own goal in the 66th minute.
WSU redshirt-senior goalkeeper Ashlyn Dvorak made a career-high 13 saves, the most by a Cougar keeper in six seasons, including 10 first-half saves to keep the score level into halftime.
Amado’s goal less than one minute into the match was the sixth-fastest goal in Washington State soccer history. The Colombian defender found space to run into at the top of the right side of the penalty area, dribbling between defenders before calmly lifting the shot over the keeper’s hands and into the top near post.
Before Seattle U equalized, the Redhawks thought they found the equalizer in the 13th minute before the goal was called offside after video review. The Redhawks later equalized in the 28th minute when Leila Leano scored with her left foot into the far side-netting from 16 yards out.
WSU held less possession than SU, enduring a season-high 14 shots on target by a Cougar opponent. The Wazzu defense held until the halftime whistle, facing 11 first half shots on target before regrouping and limiting the Redhawks to just three strikes on target in the final 45 minutes.
“It was the adjustments at halftime,” Coach Chris Citowicki said. “The final conversation before we went out for the second half was about not just being a team that works hard, but also a team that outsmarts people. We’re going to be intelligent. So, for us to maintain that identity when Seattle U had the flow and it looked like the game might get away from us shows you how much we’ve matured since the first game.”
WSU found the breakthrough goal in the 66th minute when senior Emma Widmor played a cross in from the left side of the endline, hoping to find Makena Smith. The ball never reached Smith, ricocheting off a Redhawk defender and into the near post for the game-winner.
The Cougars concluded nonconference play with a 3-3-3 record and will enter a two-week rest before beginning Pac-12 Conference play. The revitalized Pac-12 begins at the start of October with WSU welcoming long-time foe Oregon State to Lower Soccer Field, Thursday, October 1, for a 6 p.m. kickoff.
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- Ashlyn Dvorak made a career high 13 saves
- The Cougars are unbeaten in their last three contests
- Dvorak made the most saves by a Cougar keeper since April 2021 when Marissa Zucchetto made 13 saves against then-No. 22 Washington
- Isabella Amado scored her first career goal
- Amado’s goal 54 seconds into the match is the sixth fastest goal in program history