WSU (5-4-4) beat the Saint Mary’s Gaels 1-0 Wednesday to remain undefeated at home this season. The Cougs played in another physical bout, continuing to play a match style that does not score many goals, but still gets the job done.
WSU got off to a quick start, immediately putting the pressure on the Gaels. Just before the five-minute mark in the game, fifth-year forward Grayson Lynch got possession off of a good WSU defensive play at midfield and delivered a high-arching lob to Naomi Clark who fed it to a sprinting Megan Santa Cruz. The sophomore midfielder switched the field from the top of the box to an open Lynch who lifted the ball just past the outstretched hands of SMC goalkeeper Kate Plachy.
The goal was Lynch’s second in the past three games and marked the third match in a row in which the Cougs scored within the first 13 minutes. Santa Cruz was credited with her second assist in as many games, serving as her first set of assists of the season.
WSU kept the pressure on Plachy early in the first half, rattling off three shots in three minutes, two of which required saves by Plachy. Lynch and Santa Cruz were right in the thick of the offensive attack again, each firing off shots of their own, and defender Jenna Studer fired a dangerous header off of a set piece that the goalkeeper just managed to reach before it would have hit the back of the net.
Lynch’s early goal would set the tone for the rest of the half and much of the game as both teams struggled to generate significant offensive pressure.
The Cougs outshot the Gaels 6-1 in the first 25 minutes and entered halftime with a 9-5 shot advantage. The offense stalled for the last 20 minutes though, as they failed to get any shots on goal. SMC began to push the ball down the line and got more aggressive, but could not break through the tough WSU backline as passing lanes were muddied for both teams throughout the first half.
The second half would continue to be a possession struggle, as the attackers for both teams looked for opportunities to open the floodgates on some offensive momentum, but did so sparingly as the defenses continued to hold up.
The Gaels finally put significant pressure on WSU goalie Nadia Cooper in the 62nd minute. Sophomore defender Emmie Ennis delivered a soaring cross that entered dangerously close to the goal line inside the six-yard box but was punched away by Cooper. Just a minute later, midfielder Savannah Schwarze took a high shot toward the right post, but Cooper sprawled out, knocking it away. Cooper’s athleticism was put on full display on multiple occasions in the second half, making heads-up plays on multiple crosses and 50-50 balls.
Both teams were physical for the rest of the second half, but could not get much going. WSU only shot the ball four times in the second half, two of which came from Grayson Lynch. Offsides and injuries marred the Gaels’ attacks, as the team racked up five offsides in the second half and eight in total for the game. Schwarze had an excellent opportunity in the 64th minute when she hit the back of the net off a threatening play in the middle of the box, but was called offsides.
SMC forward Micaela Romo had to leave the game in the 76th minute after colliding with WSU’s Maggie Mace, although she returned near the very end of the match. SMC suffered a bigger blow when the team’s goal leader Tessa Salvestrin suffered a leg injury in the 87th minute after making a slide tackle on the ball. Her leg was twitching in pain and she had to be helped off the field.
The Cougs had their own injury in the 63rd minute when senior Ashley Berge went down with a non-contact leg injury and could not put weight on that leg going off the field. Berge did not return to the match.
WSU managed to hold on the rest of the way, continuing to lean on their defensive identity to win the day. Lynch was the most active for the Cougs, providing four shots in just 44 minutes of playing time, all of which were on goal.
Lynch surpassed Brandi Vega to become 10th on the all-time career shots list for WSU. Lynch also played in her 91st match, putting her within one match of tying her former teammate Mykiaa Minniss for third all-time in total matches.
Santa Cruz was the other attacking focal point for the Cougs, pitching in an assist and four shots of her own in her usual aggressive style.
After the game, WSU coach Todd Shulenberger praised Lynch and described the offensive flow of the rest of the game.
“Well it was a great goal to start the game and we challenged them to get after it early here tonight and we did in the first six to eight minutes or so with a goal,” Shulenberger said. “Honestly we should’ve had three more and put this thing away, but we didn’t. But we capitalized on a goal early, maintained the first half, and I think then the second half was a little bit of a back-and-forth game. Balls were flying back and forth, but we did a good job to close this thing out.”
Schwarze led the offensive attack for the Gaels, putting up two shots, including one on goal. The offense was limited across the board as the Cougs put up a strong defensive effort against Salvestrin, who is fourth in the WCC in goals this year with six and won WCC Offensive Player of the Week earlier in the season.
The Cougs stay home this weekend when they face off against the University of Portland at 7 p.m. Saturday at Lower Soccer Field.
