WSU Soccer (8-3-2) had their worst stretch of play over the weekend as they lost both games in California 2-1. The Cougs took a total of 19 shots in both games and scored two goals, struggling the most they have this season.

Against Cal WSU took 13 shots compared to the 13 from the Golden Bears, against Stanford the Cougs got stomped, taking only six shots with four on target compared to 22 from Stanford with 10 on target.

The Cougs started the game against Cal slowly, only taking a few shots in the first 10 minutes. Cal got the opening goal in the 11th minute to take the 1-0 lead early. The goal was scored by Keely Roy on a nice through ball by the Cal midfield to give Roy her sixth goal of the season.

Cal slowed the game down after taking the lead, controlling the midfield, and keeping possession to preserve their lead against WSU. The game was relatively slow for the next 20 minutes with only a handful of small chances from each team as both teams played a very defensive half.

In the 38th minute, a WSU defender made an illegal slide tackle inside Cal’s box to give the Golden Bears a penalty kick. The penalty was scored by Roy, giving her two goals in the game, and doubling the Golden Bears’ lead just before halftime.

WSU took six shots in the first half compared to seven from Cal who scored two goals. No saves were made by either goalie in the half.

The second half saw the Cougs trying everything they could to produce goals in the game but were ultimately denied by the Golden Bears’ defense as they came up empty on every shot. The slow pace of Cal and willingness to get back on defense really put the pressure on WSU to make quality chances but could not make enough to get a result in the game.

WSU kept the pressure on in the last 15 minutes of the game but struggled once they got inside the box and were shut out for 89 minutes until Brianna McReynolds scored her second goal of the season to cut the lead to one with only a minute left. The goal was assisted by Lily Boyden. The goal was too little too late, however, and the Cougs fell 2-1 to Cal for their first loss since their first regular season game against Michigan.  

WSU took seven shots in the second half with one on target in the game, Cal took six shots with none on target in the second. Both teams finished with 13 shots and every on-target shot they took was a goal.

Against Stanford, WSU struggled tremendously on the offensive end, the six shots they took in the game was the fewest all season, however, four of them were on target but were all saved by the Stanford goalkeeper. Stanford took 22 shots in the game and had 10 on target-shots. WSU goalie Nadia Cooper made eight saves and the Stanford goalie saved every shot in the game.

In the 28th minute, Jasmine Aikey scored her second goal of the season to give the Cardinal the lead. In the 41st minute the Cougs equalized, the goal was an own goal by the Stanford team on a redirected ball from the Cardinal defender off a corner from WSU to tie the game 1-1 heading into halftime.

Stanford outshot WSU 11-2 in the first half. Stanford took three corner kicks in the half compared to zero from the Cougs.

The second half saw Stanford take another 11 shots with four of them on target. Their game-winning goal came in the 76th minute of the game as Samantha Williams scored her fifth goal of the season and gave Stanford the 2-1 victory. The goal was assisted by Lumi Kostmayer.

Stanford outplayed WSU all game and showed that WSU needs to be more effective and efficient on the offensive end if they want to compete in the Pac-12.

The next time the Cougs take the field will be Friday as they host the Oregon Ducks. This will be the Cougs only game of the week and the first of three consecutive home games. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. at The Lower Soccer Field.