WSU (5-5-5) fell to the Gonzaga Bulldogs on Saturday in a match that saw seven combined goals, but the Cougs failed to break their winless road record this season.

Both teams came into the match with a style of play that spread the wealth, as they both sported more than ten players with a goal this year. The Bulldogs were fourth in the WCC in goals coming into the match, a highlight of a team that scores many goals but also gives up a lot. The Cougs played most of their season a bit differently, scoring just 16 goals on the year and only allowing 15.

The first half would play to the physical style of WSU but featured a quick-paced offense and a variety of offensive build-ups by both sides.

The Bulldogs relied on corners and a patient mindset for much of the first half, winning possession consistently deep in the Cougar half and forcing the wing defenders out of position. Gonzaga had three corners in about the first 20 minutes of the game and saw multiple strong opportunities barely slip away from them. Senior forward Marissa Garcia led the Bulldogs offense with three shots, including two that forced saves from WSU goalkeeper Nadia Cooper.

WSU was not afraid to trade jabs with Gonzaga, as they relied much more on speed and the counterattack. Two of the Cougs quickest players, Megan Santa Cruz and Rajanah Reed had two shots each, but it was forward Naomi Clark who provided their only shot on goal in the half off of a well-placed through ball from fifth-year forward Grayson Lynch. 

Both teams were very active in the first half but entered halftime at a stalemate. WSU closely outshot Gonzaga 5-4 and the goalies combined for just three saves. The halftime score was far from representative of the match though, as the offensive strikes of both teams would finally start to hit in the second half.

After trading excellent shot opportunities from the Cougs’ Nathalie Lewis and Zags’ Chelsea Le, Gonzaga finally broke through in the 54th minute. Standout freshman Amelia Severn sent a dangerous corner kick looping toward the back post that was headed by Paige Alexander straight to the feet of Emelia Warta who sneaked the ball in the goal past Nadia Cooper who was too late on the reaction. The goal would spur a string of successful offensive attacks from both sides for the rest of the second half.

The Cougs quickly responded, taking advantage of a young Gonzaga backline that consistently fields just one upperclassman and was down to a backup freshman goalkeeper. Just under two minutes later, midfielder Reagan Kotschau received a lob pass from fellow midfielder Santa Cruz in the lower corner of the box and one-tapped it to a sprinting Lindsey Turner. She delivered a low shot from the penalty box that hit the back of the net and knotted the game at 1-1.

The Bulldogs dealt with multiple minor injuries throughout the game including missed time from key players like Severn and Alexander, but the team’s youthful energy kicked in strong in the later stages of the game.

After an extended break from the pitch, Garcia returned to the pitch in the 67th minute. She immediately provided a spark with her experience, playing very active and winning a crucial penalty for the Bulldogs with a strong ball into the box that deflected off the arm of WSU defender Reese Tappan. Cooper guessed right on the shot but Le’s kick from the penalty spot knocked off the post and into the goal to give Gonzaga the lead with 20 minutes to go.

The next 15 minutes would be dominated by the Bulldogs, as their offensive pressure did not let up.  Warta, who would go on to have a very busy night, stole a mistimed ball to WSU’s Jenna Studer and delivered the go-ahead pass to Severn. Catching the Cougs off-guard, she delivered a strongly driven kick, converting to go up 3-1.

The Bulldogs extended their lead to three goals just three minutes later, as Warta sent another impressive ball to the lower left side of the box, where Cooper expected a cross, but forward Katelyn Rigg instead took a direct shot on goal that hit the back of the net.

Down three, the game looked all but out of reach for the Cougs, but they continued to display a strong effort. They played with pace and put strong tackles on the ball. WSU did not go away just yet and earned a penalty opportunity in the 87th minute after Lynch got a review on an elbow touch to go in her favor. Tappan took the shot after Kotschau missed in the last match, and made it 4-2 on a simple shot in the opposite direction of the goalie.

Just a minute passed by before the Cougs made it a truly competitive game once again. Lynch again was in the thick of the offensive attack, as Maggie Mace delivered a ball toward the box that was headed by Kendall Campbell and finished by a sliding Lynch who knocked it off a defender. The Cougs would have just under two minutes to get the equalizer and come out with a positive result.

In a chaotic sequence of slide tackles and changing possession, Campbell broke through and looked to tie the game for a second time in a row. She took a strong low shot that went just wide of the goal post. The entire WSU bench was on their feet but expressed disbelief on their faces as the shot missed. Gonzaga would hold onto the lead and come out with a well-fought 4-3 victory.

Santa Cruz was once again the most active Coug, notching four shots and an assist, but again failed to get a shot on goal. Reese Tappan became the 11th Coug to score a goal this season, and Lynch and Turner both converted their only shots into goals. This match was just the third time all season that the Cougs have allowed three or more goals.

The Bulldogs got excellent performances from its younger players, as three of their four goals were scored by underclassmen. Warta had the best all-around game for Gonzaga, as she finished with one goal and two assists. The Bulldogs scored three or more goals for the fifth time this year.

WSU will head to California next for a pivotal road swing against No. 10 Santa Clara on Wednesday and San Francisco on Saturday.