WSU soccer (3-1-1) is set to host the Cal Poly Mustangs Sunday where WSU looks to stay undefeated at home. Kickoff is set for noon at the Lower Soccer Field.

All time, WSU is 1-2 against Cal Poly with the most recent game coming in September 2018 where the Cougs won 4-1 in Pullman. The two games where Cal Poly beat WSU were in 1995 and 1996.

The Cougs are coming off a 4-2 victory over the Denver Pioneers Thursday. Forward Margie Detrizio scored her fourth goal of the season and got an assist as well. Sydney Studer scored her second goal of the season in the game.

WSU has scored 10 goals this season and given up six goals. The Cougar offense’s primary problem so far is putting the ball in the back of the net. In their first five games this season, the Cougs have taken 107 shots with 39 being on target to get their 10 goals. On the defensive side, WSU has allowed 30 shots with 14 on target for the six goals allowed. WSU has a strong defense that keeps them in every game. Their offense has been what makes most of the games this season close finishes.

Cal Poly is 2-3. In 2021 they finished the season 13-8, their first winning season since 2014 when they went 10-9-1.

This season Cal Poly started their year in Moraga, California where they lost 3-1 to Saint Mary’s. After losing to Saint Mary’s, Cal Poly traveled home to San Luis Obispo, California where they took on the Iowa Hawkeyes who beat Cal Poly 1-0.

The first win of the season for Cal Poly came in Minneapolis where Cal Poly defeated the Minnesota Golden Gophers 1-0. The Mustangs followed their win up with another win against Sacramento State in Sacramento, California, the score was 1-0.

Against then ranked No. 12 Stanford Cardinal, the Mustangs took a 4-1 thrashing in Stanford, California.

Before Cal Poly travels to Pullman the Mustangs will make a pit stop in Spokane as they will take on the Gonzaga Bulldogs Thursday.

This season Cal Poly has scored four goals from four different players, Camille Lafaix, Kylie Rojas, Madison Demijohn and Nikki Trucco. Emily Lieber leads Cal Poly with three assists. The Mustangs have given up eight goals so far this season in their first five games. Cal Poly goalie Mackenzie Samuel has played in three games for the Mustangs and has given up seven goals but made 26 saves.

Against Stanford, Samuel made 13 saves in the game. Against the Golden Gophers, Samuel made five saves on her way to a clean sheet. In 2021, Samuel played in eight games and allowed six goals with 21 saves. Cal Poly has another goalie, Mary Norman who has appeared in two games where she allowed one goal and made three saves.

If WSU wants to win their fourth in a row they need to take over 15 shots once again and have at least six on target to test the defense and put pressure on the Mustangs’ defense.