WSU soccer has begun to build itself a reputation in Cougar athletics. The Cougar women are dependable and one of the most consistent performers among Wazzu’s sports teams.
The program’s recent success started with the hiring of head coach Todd Shulenberger back in 2015, when he took a solid soccer program and made it even stronger.
Since then, Shulenberger has led a consistent and successful program. Shulenberger has posted a 100-60-29 record as the Cougar coach, including a record 16-win season in 2019 that saw the program reach its first College Cup. The Cougs have made the NCAA tournament five times under Shulenberger and the long-time college coach reached 100 career victories last season.
WSU entered last season with high expectations in its first season in the WCC, finishing second in the preseason coaches’ poll behind soccer powerhouse Pepperdine, while receiving two of 11 first-place votes. Coming off a solid 9-6-4 season and returning Pac-12 All-Freshmen Reagan Kotschau and Megan Santa Cruz, as well as former Pac-12 Goalkeeper of the year Nadia Cooper, the Cougs were primed to capitalize on a veteran defense and a growing youth movement.
The Cougs struggled to find their offensive identity throughout the non-conference schedule, though, and sported a defense less stout than it appeared on paper. The Cougs finished 8-5-6 overall and fourth in the WCC in another solid campaign, but fell short of expectations.
Now, WSU faces the challenge that is inexperience.
The Cougs lost their veteran core from last season, including USL Super League-bound Cooper and co-captain Reese Tappan. The team’s other captain, Grayson Lynch also graduated along with Cougar veteran Lindsey Turner. The Cougs now return just three seniors or fifth-year players who started a game last year.
WSU was hit even harder in the transfer portal, losing 2024 All-WCC honorable mentions in Kotschau and Santa Cruz as well as All-Freshman forward Kendall Campbell. The Cougs not only lost their veteran leadership, but their young core also took a massive hit.
But Shulenberger did not take those losses lightly and turned to what he does best: recruit. For a coach who has produced 10 professionals in the last six years, a recruiting class that includes an astonishing 11 incoming freshmen brings lots of potential to produce quality talent.
With a roster dominated by underclassmen, many questions remain at every position, but this team maintains the potential to break through.
Defense
The backline will be headed by veteran leadership in redshirt fifth-year Jenna Studer and senior Peyton Price, fortifying what is likely the roster’s deepest position group. The pair combined for 29 starts last season as Studer started every game to go along with two goals coming off injury, while Price worked her way into a starting role over the course of the season.
Alena Watts also returns with the second-most starts last season of any returning Coug. She started 15 games last year and led the defense on the attack with 13 total shots and converted one goal in the first game of the season.
The Cougs added transfers Brooke Brown and Meg Devall from Cincinnati and Portland State, respectively, and bring much-needed experience to a defense in need of a refresh and talent boost. Brown was a prolific starter for the Bearcats in 2023 before her 2024 season was limited to three games, while Devall started 17 of 18 matches in her sophomore year with the Vikings. Both transfers figure to get a number of starts on the backline.
Between Studer, Price, Watts, Brown and Devall, the Cougs likely have their starting rotation locked down, with Devall and Brown rotating in and of the last starting spot. But, there is potential elsewhere on the depth chart.
Sophomore Denise Pugh and freshman Kiera Mitchell both utilized redshirt options last year and could be in line for bigger roles with a year of learning the system under their belts. Three new freshmen also enter the fold, highlighted by Maizy Kluksdal and Aaya McLynn. Kluksdal was key to the trip to the state tournament last year for Boise High School, while McLynn arrives with unique talent as a multi-sport athlete, including club experience with Legend FC and success as a flag football player.
The loss of Tappan on the line and Cooper to back it up is tough, but the defense sits in a good position to rebound after last year’s losses.
Midfielders
After listing eight midfielders on last year’s roster, that number shrinks to six in 2025 in what is the team’s thinnest position group. Senior Maggie Mace returns as the only upperclassman and the clear leader of the group. Mace was a day-one starter last season and started 17 of 19 matches while notching three assists.
The only other returner for the group is sophomore Jamuna Williams, whose development will be key to the offense’s success. The attack largely funneled through the prolific movement and passing of Santa Cruz and Kotschau, who combined for 74 shots and 11 assists last season. With the midfielders taking the largest hit, Williams, who played the second-most minutes out of any freshman after returning from injury last year, will need to take a big step forward.
The team’s true X-factor, though, comes in the form of Arkansas transfer Audrey Shackelford. Coming in as the youngest transfer, Shackelford lacks experience but appeared in eight games for a Razorbacks team that reached the quarterfinals of the NCAA tournament. Shackelford saw success with San Juan SC, earning an ECNL All-Conference selection. As a former Power 4 recruit, her potential could swing the team’s offensive firepower.
The rest of the midfielders are dominated by freshmen, including Ana de los Santos, Maddie Martin and Isabelle Wright. Santos arrives as a former member of the LA Breakers system and with an accomplished high school career. Martin signed with the Cougs back in February of 2024 and will look to finally make her college debut after her time with the Vancouver Whitecaps academy. Wright helped to lead her club team, the Idaho Rush, to a Far West title last season.
Those freshmen could see a larger role in a group that is largely unproven outside of Mace.
Forwards
With a small midfielder group, a larger forward group is to be expected. The group is 11 strong, but is the most inexperienced on the roster.
No forwards return from last year’s roster, with key pieces Lynch and Campbell both out the door. Now, the Cougar attack turns to transfers Jordyn Young and Abigail Siddall to lead a group of eight freshmen and a redshirt sophomore.
Young arrives from former Pac-12 foe California, where she struggled with injuries and breaking through for significant playing time. After a promising freshman season, Young appeared in just 12 matches for the Golden Bears over three seasons. Siddall previously played at the NAIA level with SCAD Savannah where she played a pivotal role, earning all-conference honors in three seasons with the team.
Among the freshmen, the Cougs added two aggressive goal-scorers in Rebecca Skinner and Delanie Corcoran. Skinner scored over 100 goals during her time at Clarkston High School while Corcoran notched 63 for her club team. Former Utah Royals FC forward Ava Ghoreishi played under new WSU assistant coach Harold Warren, bringing needed chemistry to a roster with few returnees.
As the lone sophomore, Elliotte Kortus will likely see a bigger role behind the more experienced Young and Siddall. Kortus is entering her third season as a Coug after redshirting two years and had a decorated prep career, being named the 2021 Idaho Girls Soccer Gatorade Player of the Year.
While two upperclassmen will bear the majority of the leadership role, the door for contributing roles is wide open for the forwards.
Goalkeepers
Shulenberger has a good problem on his hands. Losing Cooper, the heart of WSU’s defense for years, is not a good problem. But having three capable replacements is.
The battle for the starting spot will likely come down to senior transfers Zora Standifer and Keara Fitzgerald. Neither Standifer nor Fitzgerald appeared in any matches last season, but Standifer comes with greater recent success. Standifer earned Big West All-Conference honorable mentions in both 2022 and 2023 and fifth-most career saves in Long Beach State’s history. Fitzgerald led the Big West in saves in her final season at UC San Diego, but suffered an injury in the team’s final game and suffered a season-ending injury in the 2024 offseason after signing with WSU.
The battle should be tight and could force Shulenberger to split time at the spot. WSU also added impressive freshman Sydney Venier, also from the Whitecaps youth system, who helped lead her team to a League 1 title last summer. Her 5-foot-7 frame and inexperience will relegate her to a viable third-string role among the goalies.
