HONOLULU – The Washington State women’s soccer team lost 1-0, Thursday evening to the Utah Valley Wolverines at the University of Hawai’i Lower Campus Field. The UVU goal came in the final 90 seconds after playing for over 85 scoreless minutes, snapping a 265-minute consecutive shutout streak by the WSU defense.
The Wolverines stole the win in the Cougars’ only neutral-site contest of the season, finishing a cross from the right side that bounced through several defenders and strikers to the far post and the foot of Kate Booth with 88:43 on the clock.
“It was disappointing to give up a goal that late, as we did such a great job defending up to that point,” WSU Head Coach Chris Citowicki said postgame. “Kudos to Utah Valley for creating the chances and pushing us back that often. Our first half was great and we created some good looks, but didn’t execute what had to be done.”
Despite being outshot 19-6 in the match, the Cougars’ created quality chances in their build up, particularly in the final 10 minutes of the first half. Lydia Robertson nearly banked her first goal as a Coug, turning and rocketing a shot from the top of the goal box at the lower left corner. The shot was parried away by the diving UVU goalkeeper to deny Robertson a golazo in the 39th minute.
Just past 40 minutes into the match, freshman Kate Spangler turned into open space on the left channel and played a give-and-go exchange to find herself 1-on-1 with the Wolverine GK in the 6-yard box. Spangler chipped the ball to the far-post netting, but was denied by a smothering parry a few minutes before the whistle came for halftime.
Returning from the break on a sunny afternoon, both sides battled 25-miles-per-hour winds with gusts over 35. The flurry continued on the field when the Cougars blocked two dangerous chances in the 65th minute, part of 11 second-half Utah Valley shots. Despite the high shot count for the Wolverines, the Cougar defense held UVU’s attempts to under half on target with limited quality shots on frame.
The Cougar soccer team will conclude the OUTRIGGER No Ka Oi against hosting Hawaii, Sunday, September 6 at 7 p.m. PT (4 p.m. HT). The match will stream on MW+ live from UH Lower Campus Field.
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- Taylie Nowels made her first start at WSU
- Ashlyn Dvorak made a season-high seven saves
- The Cougars fall to 1-1 all-time against Utah Valley