Still searching for their first win, the Cougs (0-1-1) clashed with a battle-tested Idaho squad (2-1-2) Thursday, but neither side could break through as the match ended in a tie.
The Cougs entered the Kibbie Dome in Moscow for the first time since 2014, on a 14-game win streak against the Vandals, but were unable to extend that win streak to 15. The Battle of the Palouse kicked off with a good possessive attack from the Vandals, with Wazzu quickly responding with an attack of their own.
The Vandals quickly regained their composure, and in the fifth minute forward Calli Chiarelli sank a shot inside the box to give Idaho an early 1-0 lead after a quick escape from the defenders.
Wazzu looked to slow the pace and settle into possession, working the ball across the midfield. The Cougars held the ball well in stretches, but their momentum stalled after committing three consecutive fouls, each one handing the Vandals back possession and breaking up WSU’s attacking flow and consistency.
In the 11th minute, Alena Watts would take a massive shot on goal that was saved by Idaho’s keeper, Paula Flores. The Vandals responded two minutes later with a shot of their own that ricocheted off the crossbar.
The constant back and forth continued as both teams traded possession and tested each other with weaker shots that failed to truly threaten either goalkeeper. Watts remained a consistent spark for the Cougs, pushing the ball forward on the attack while also tracking back to disrupt Idaho’s counters. Her ability to create chances on offense and shut down passing lanes defensively made her one of the most active players on the pitch, keeping the Cougars in rhythm and together as a team.
In the 36th minute, sophomore midfielder Audrey Shackelford, who transferred from the University of Arkansas, got the ball and launched a shot from 20 yards out, landing right in the back of the net to tie the game. Shackelford’s first collegiate goal tied the Vandals and Cougs at 1-1.
In her postgame interview, Shackelford reflected on scoring her first collegiate goal.
“I felt like I was watching for 20 minutes and it went in,” Shackelford said. “It was pretty surreal, it didn’t feel real, it was exciting. It means a lot. I remember when I was so young, I was like, ‘Am I ever going to make it to college?’ And now here I am scoring a goal, and it doesn’t feel real.”
The rest of the half would turn out the same with both teams’ offense fighting for every touch.
The second half opened with both sides creating pressure at either end. Shackelford nearly connected on a corner, but her cross was just out of reach for Kiera Mitchell. Moments later, goalkeeper Keara Fitzgerald came up big, stopping a dangerous backwards header to keep the Cougars in the game.
Even after some good runs from Shackelford, Watts and Mitchell, WSU was unable to capitalize on their heavy attack.
The pressure from both teams would continue up until the very end with a close last minute shot being taken by the Cougs.
Both teams were unable to secure anymore goals, ending the game in a 1-1 tie and bringing the Cougs 14-game win streak to an end.
“A tie is not a loss, it’s not a win either, it’s not like we held on to the game,” head coach Todd Shulenberger said. “We gotta be better down there in front of the goal. The first 15 minutes was all them [Idaho]. Different stories from there, one-way traffic.”
Shulenberger noted the importance of the upcoming schedule.
“We gotta win the conference,” Shulenberger said. “We have a hard schedule to begin with, Georgia is gonna be a beast.”
WSU will face Georgia at 1 p.m. Sunday at the Lower Soccer Field in Pullman.
