Washington State University Athletics
Photo by: Washington State Athletics
Get to Know Cougar Soccer | Riley Carolan
April 15, 2026 | Soccer
My first question is coming from Montana. So far, what have been the main differences between Montana and Pullman?
I think the main differences have just been treatment overall as an athlete. I think there's a lot more resources available to us here, whether that be equipment, you know, I was laughing yesterday. I was talking to someone else in the athletic department. At practice, we were wearing sweat monitors to kind of track how many electrolytes and how much water you're losing. I guess as a college athlete, I've never witnessed anything like that. So stuff like that, nutrition, having a dietitian on hand, all those resources are really cool.
Coming from Montana with Coach Citowicki, what made you want to follow him over here?
I think knowing his style of play, the direction he likes to lead a team. I think knowing that made me feel comfortable, and then also I'm a legacy here. My dad played football here, and both my parents went here, so I grew up coming over to the Palouse on the weekends for home football games, and it felt like a little bit of coming back.
What has been your favorite soccer memory from college or youth?
I would probably say the Big Sky championship game this past fall. Winning that and then going and getting a bid into the NCAA Tournament. Pretty awesome memory.
How far did you guys go in the Tournament?
We lost in the First Round against UW. Sore spot.
What do you think are your biggest strengths on the field?
I play center back, so that takes a lot of leadership communication. I focus on leading the lines ahead of me and giving them the most direct and on-field communication I can. I'm also 6 feet tall, so I pride myself on winning the aerial duels and being strong as a defender when it comes down to that. I think just leadership as a whole and big tackles and big moments.
What are you looking forward to the most this coming season?
Oh, I think I'm looking forward to honestly a lot. We've played just one spring game thus far, and we have one this weekend, and I think already seeing the way our team is coming together and clicking gets me so excited for the fall. New opponents, of course, I haven't faced a lot of these teams in the Pac-12, so that'll be fun to get some new targets and new people to go against. And yeah, I think this is gonna be my last fall, so just making the most of it, and with the new friendships I've made.
What are three words you would use to describe the team?
I don't know if I can give you three. We have four core values, and I would really use those to describe our team. Integrity - saying what you mean when you say something, you're gonna do it. Joy - there's so much joy in our team. I think when you guys watch us play, you'll be able to see that this fall and even in these spring games, we love playing with each other. We love the sport. Relentless effort - whether we lose the ball, we're gonna get right back, and we're not gonna stop till the job's finished, and then there's this sense of togetherness that is really special on the team of just everyone coming together, everyone coming to achieve one common goal. It's been really fun.
Coming back to Pullman, how have you been enjoying it?
Oh, I love it down here. Yeah, I love it. I'm from Seattle, so I am a city girl by heart, but I love the small town. I love the slower pace here. You know, rolling hills and stuff. It's been nice to just take trips over to Moscow, kind of get acclimated here. Yeah, go driving around. It's just been fun to explore with my roommates here.
What is your current hyperfixation?
Anything? My current hyperfixation. Okay, so I got really back into reading, and there are a couple of girls - shout out to Ashlyn Sandow and Maycen Slater. We've been reading, getting really back into reading. So we are reading Throne of Glass right now and that has been our hyperfixation. Seems like every single practice we're talking about. We're in two different books of the series. So we're talking about what's going on in our books, and that's been fun.
What is your pre-match superstition?
I wouldn't really say as much as a superstition, I would say. I'm very big in my faith, so doing a good Bible study before my game to get in the zone. Getting close with God, and then I know a couple of my teammates, Makena Smith, will say a prayer before the game, and just getting the right vibes. I need good music, and I need a good pre-meal before the game. Yeah, just good vibes and good dance moves.
What's the go-to meal before a game?
Oh, it could be anything. A lot of people get scared about eating before games. I can have either two full meals or one meal, depending on the time, since I eat before a game, and I find that works best for me. Pretty much give me anything. I've gone to Cracker Barrel and gotten a full plate of food before. I can eat just about anything.
Who has influenced your development the most as a player?
Oh, this is hard. It's probably a tie between my parents, because I think a lot of people think the go-to would be my dad playing here and then going on to play in the NFL, but definitely him for the mindset. He always kept me going. And, you know, we have a phrase in my family. Me and my parents know very well. I actually got it tattooed behind my ear. "controlled." You can control, control everything you can, your effort, your attitude, everything you put into it. There are a lot of things you can't control in the world so focusing on that. And also my mom. She's always motivated me to do what I love and have fun with the sport. Don't forget to have fun doing what you do, so both of them, for sure.
I think the main differences have just been treatment overall as an athlete. I think there's a lot more resources available to us here, whether that be equipment, you know, I was laughing yesterday. I was talking to someone else in the athletic department. At practice, we were wearing sweat monitors to kind of track how many electrolytes and how much water you're losing. I guess as a college athlete, I've never witnessed anything like that. So stuff like that, nutrition, having a dietitian on hand, all those resources are really cool.
Coming from Montana with Coach Citowicki, what made you want to follow him over here?
I think knowing his style of play, the direction he likes to lead a team. I think knowing that made me feel comfortable, and then also I'm a legacy here. My dad played football here, and both my parents went here, so I grew up coming over to the Palouse on the weekends for home football games, and it felt like a little bit of coming back.
What has been your favorite soccer memory from college or youth?
I would probably say the Big Sky championship game this past fall. Winning that and then going and getting a bid into the NCAA Tournament. Pretty awesome memory.
How far did you guys go in the Tournament?
We lost in the First Round against UW. Sore spot.
What do you think are your biggest strengths on the field?
I play center back, so that takes a lot of leadership communication. I focus on leading the lines ahead of me and giving them the most direct and on-field communication I can. I'm also 6 feet tall, so I pride myself on winning the aerial duels and being strong as a defender when it comes down to that. I think just leadership as a whole and big tackles and big moments.
What are you looking forward to the most this coming season?
Oh, I think I'm looking forward to honestly a lot. We've played just one spring game thus far, and we have one this weekend, and I think already seeing the way our team is coming together and clicking gets me so excited for the fall. New opponents, of course, I haven't faced a lot of these teams in the Pac-12, so that'll be fun to get some new targets and new people to go against. And yeah, I think this is gonna be my last fall, so just making the most of it, and with the new friendships I've made.
What are three words you would use to describe the team?
I don't know if I can give you three. We have four core values, and I would really use those to describe our team. Integrity - saying what you mean when you say something, you're gonna do it. Joy - there's so much joy in our team. I think when you guys watch us play, you'll be able to see that this fall and even in these spring games, we love playing with each other. We love the sport. Relentless effort - whether we lose the ball, we're gonna get right back, and we're not gonna stop till the job's finished, and then there's this sense of togetherness that is really special on the team of just everyone coming together, everyone coming to achieve one common goal. It's been really fun.
Coming back to Pullman, how have you been enjoying it?
Oh, I love it down here. Yeah, I love it. I'm from Seattle, so I am a city girl by heart, but I love the small town. I love the slower pace here. You know, rolling hills and stuff. It's been nice to just take trips over to Moscow, kind of get acclimated here. Yeah, go driving around. It's just been fun to explore with my roommates here.
What is your current hyperfixation?
Anything? My current hyperfixation. Okay, so I got really back into reading, and there are a couple of girls - shout out to Ashlyn Sandow and Maycen Slater. We've been reading, getting really back into reading. So we are reading Throne of Glass right now and that has been our hyperfixation. Seems like every single practice we're talking about. We're in two different books of the series. So we're talking about what's going on in our books, and that's been fun.
What is your pre-match superstition?
I wouldn't really say as much as a superstition, I would say. I'm very big in my faith, so doing a good Bible study before my game to get in the zone. Getting close with God, and then I know a couple of my teammates, Makena Smith, will say a prayer before the game, and just getting the right vibes. I need good music, and I need a good pre-meal before the game. Yeah, just good vibes and good dance moves.
What's the go-to meal before a game?
Oh, it could be anything. A lot of people get scared about eating before games. I can have either two full meals or one meal, depending on the time, since I eat before a game, and I find that works best for me. Pretty much give me anything. I've gone to Cracker Barrel and gotten a full plate of food before. I can eat just about anything.
Who has influenced your development the most as a player?
Oh, this is hard. It's probably a tie between my parents, because I think a lot of people think the go-to would be my dad playing here and then going on to play in the NFL, but definitely him for the mindset. He always kept me going. And, you know, we have a phrase in my family. Me and my parents know very well. I actually got it tattooed behind my ear. "controlled." You can control, control everything you can, your effort, your attitude, everything you put into it. There are a lot of things you can't control in the world so focusing on that. And also my mom. She's always motivated me to do what I love and have fun with the sport. Don't forget to have fun doing what you do, so both of them, for sure.
Players Mentioned
WSU Soccer: "This Place is Special" | Chris Citowicki Introductory Press Conference | 1/26/26
Saturday, January 24
WSU Soccer: Highlights at Pacific | 11/8/25
Saturday, November 08
WSU Soccer: Highlights vs. San Francisco | 11/5/25
Thursday, November 06
WSU Soccer: "Really Proud of Zora, Jordyn" | HC Todd Shulenberger USF Postgame | 11/5/25
Thursday, November 06
