Soccer returns to Pullman with history on the line

Cougs take on Colorado Thursday followed by Utah Sunday

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KHOI VU

WSU forward Lily Boyden crosses the ball during an NCAA women’s soccer game against Cal Poly, Sep. 11, at Lower Soccer Field.

JAKE HULL, Evergreen reporter

WSU soccer(7-1-1) is looking to extend their winning streak to nine if they defeat both the Colorado Buffaloes and Utah Utes in Pullman over the weekend. WSU will take on Colorado 7 p.m. on Thursday at 7 p.m. at the Lower Soccer Field then will host Utah at noon on Sunday.

The Cougs are coming off a thrilling 1-0 victory over the Oregon State Beavers Friday as Sydney Studer scored her third goal of the season to give WSU their first conference win of the season. WSU looks strong as they continue to take 15 or more shots in every game this season as they head into the beginning of Pac-12 play.

Against Colorado, WSU is 8-4 all-time. The last game was October 2021 when WSU won 2-0. The first game between these two teams came in 2010 when Colorado won 2-1. WSU is currently on a three-game winning streak against the Buffaloes.

On the season Colorado has a record of 6-2-2. The Buffaloes started the season winning their first three games by scoring 13 goals and giving up only one. Their victories were against Weber State, San Diego and Valparaiso. The Buffaloes then drew with then ranked No. 9 BYU 2-2.

After two wins against Texas A&M Commerce and Omaha and a 1-1 draw with Michigan, the Buffaloes lost their first game of the season 4-2 to the Michigan State Spartans. Colorado then defeated Denver 2-0 and their most recent game was a 3-2 loss to Arizona State in their first Pac-12 game of the season. Colorado has scored 34 goals and given up 10 goals so far this season.

Colorado is led by Shyra James and Civana Kuhlmann. James has 10 goals on the season and Kuhlmann has seven. James is in first place in the Pac-12 for goals and Kuhlmann is tied with WSU forward Margie Detrizio for fourth in goals.

On the defensive end, Colorado goalie Dani Hansen has played in seven games on the season and has a 4-2-1 record when Hansen plays. Hansen has given up nine goals and has the fifth most saves in the Pac-12 with 26.

For the Utah Utes WSU has a 7-4-1 record. The most recent game came in September  2021 when WSU won 1-0. The first matchup between these two teams was in 2004 when Utah won 4-1. WSU is currently on a three-game winning streak and has won seven of the last nine against the Utes.

On the season, Utah is 5-2-2. They started the season with a 2-2 draw against the Portland Pilots. After the draw, the Utes went on a three-game winning streak against Colorado State, Denver and Illinois State. The Utes’ first loss of the season came to Cal State Fullerton as they won 1-0.

After a 1-1 draw with Alabama and a 1-0 victory against Utah State, the Utes lost 2-1 to then-ranked No. 25 BYU. Their first Pac-12 game of the season was a 2-1 victory over the Arizona Wildcats. Before Utah faces WSU they head to Seattle to take on the Huskies on Thursday.

Utah is led by Taliana Kaufusi who has five goals on the season. Ryann Cull led all Utah players with three assists while Kaufusi has taken 19 shots this season.

On the defensive side, Utah goalie Evie Vitali has played in nine games. Vitali has allowed eight goals and has 28 saves on the season, good for third best in the conference. Utah is ninth in the conference with 115 shots and 14 goals so far. WSU has 198 shots and 22 goals on the season.

After the two home games this weekend, WSU will travel to California for two games. The first game will be in Berkeley, California as WSU will play the Cal Bears, then they will head to Stanford, California to take on the Stanford Cardinal.