The No. 15 WSU women’s soccer team (6-1-defeated the Kansas Jayhawks (3-1-4), 1-0 Sunday afternoon at Lower Soccer Field in Pullman. The game was the fourth of an eight-game homestand for the Cougs starting at the end of August.
The Cougars got off to a hot start Sunday, as junior Khalia Gathright recorded a shot for the Cougs in the opening minute. Senior Margie Detrizio had the first shot on goal a few minutes later and the Cougs had the ball for the majority of the first half.
The opening goal came at the end of the first half. Junior Rajannah Reed brought the ball up the left side of the field into Jayhawk territory. She was one on one with her defender who she dribbled toward and managed to beat with a series of stepovers. Looking up to see where the goal was, Reed floated a shot from the left side of the penalty box, which arched over the Kansas goalkeeper before dropping into the top left corner. The goal made it 1-0, and was ultimately the game-winner for the Cougs.
“When I went in I set the tone a little bit,” said Reed after the game. “I knew I could take the player on, especially the one on my side. That’s what I’ve been doing all game. When I beat her on the left flank up there, and I cut in to take my shot, I was a little surprised it went in but it went in so I’ll take it.”
The Cougars tallied 12 first-half shots, nine in the second half for a total of 21 shots. The Jayhawks nearly scored the opening goal in the 11th minute, as Lexi Watts beat redshirt junior goalkeeper Musuai Isaia at the far post, but junior Reese Tappan was there to clear it off the line.
After losing for the first time all season last Thursday against Saint Mary’s, head coach Todd Shulenberger spoke after the game about what a win meant for the Cougs
“It’s a big win, Kansas is a good team and that’s their first loss this year,” said Shulenberger. “We had to come out and do something today because Thursday was unacceptable in my eyes. We can’t go down and lose a game like that. It’s okay, we live and learn and we’re 6-1 and we move forward but I’m happy today with the response against a good Kansas team.”
Reed also spoke after the game about the team’s performance against Kansas.
“It was a very exciting win, especially after the devastating loss we had last Thursday,” said Reed. “This is what the team needed. I think we all played great, proud of ourselves, proud of this team.”
After a shaky performance Thursday in the loss to Saint Mary’s, Shulenberger decided to give Isaia a shot at goalkeeper, after Nadia Cooper started the previous seven games of the season. Isaia recorded her first clean sheet and win, making two saves and anchoring the Cougars to their first shutout at home since shutting out Arizona back on Oct. 23, 2022.
The WSU soccer team is back 7 p.m. Thursday in Pullman as they host Seattle University. The theme for Thursday’s game is “Swifties at the pitch” night. Television coverage will be available on the Pac-12 Network.
