After two weeks on the road, the WSU soccer team (8-5-1, 1-4-1) returns to the Lower Soccer Field to challenge Colorado (10-3-2, 2-2-2) 7 p.m. Thursday in Pullman, Washington.
Celebrating a special ‘Pink Game,’ fans have the opportunity to acquire pink rally towels and name cards as the team raises awareness for breast cancer victims and screenings. On the field, the Cougs will don special pink uniforms.
The Cougars prepare for their penultimate home game of the season after a string of tough challengers on the road, picking up a 1-1 draw at Cal last Friday. The result marks WSU’s first tie of the season.
The Buffaloes also walked away from their last match with a 1-1 tie against No. 11 USC this past Saturday in Los Angeles. Though outshot 19-9, Colorado matched USC in shots on goal at 6-6.
Thursday’s matchup will prove to be one of offensive showmanship, with WSU’s Margie Detrizio and Colorado’s Shyra James on opposing sides of the field. Over the last few weeks, Detrizio has continued to climb the Pac-12 offensive player rankings, now in a three-way tie for fifth.
Friday’s game at Cal increased Detrizio’s career point total to 63, seventh in program history. She leads the Cougs with team-highs of four assists and six goals.
Meanwhile, James currently holds the top spot in the Pac-12 offensive rankings with 12 goals, 26 points and 30 shots on goal on the season. The senior forward is two goals shy of second in all-time career totals in Colorado’s history, scoring her 37th last week at USC.
WSU junior Rajanna Reed netted her third goal of the season with her equalizer at Cal last week.
WSU fifth-year Bridget Reiken made her 80th career start at Cal (sixth-most in program history), marking her 83rd match played (eighth-most in program history).
The Cougs currently wield the lead in their all-time series with Colorado at 8-5-1, tying against the Buffaloes last September, and have a home record of 3-3-1 in their previous matchups.
The game will broadcast on Pac-12 Live and will welcome attendees with free admission at 7 p.m. Thursday at the Lower Soccer Playfields.
