The Cougars (3-3-3) beat the Seattle University Redhawks on Wednesday, Sep. 24 to claim their first win in West Coast Conference play. The Cougars who went 2-3-3 in non-conference play were looking to start off conference play on a high. 

“Yeah, we thought we had a good game plan coming in, something they haven’t seen yet and obviously it worked,” Said head coach Todd Shulenberger.

The Cougars offensive came alive, scoring four goals. Cougars started off hot, seeing Abigail Siddall score her second goal of the year in the 4th minute. The Cougars struck again in the 24th minute, Audrey Shackelford was able to dribble through three Seattle U players as she found the back of the net, scoring her second goal of the season. 

“It was nice I just saw a gap and I was like, I’m going to take it cuz coach said, let’s go at them and I just did and then it felt good,” Shackleford said 

Kiera Mitchell was able to concede a penalty kick in the 42nd minute, and was able to score off of a well placed kick. The Cougs were able to round out the half with a fourth goal scored by Journey Middleborn in the 43rd minute as Isabelle Wright was able to send her a ball right across the box allowing for her to tap it in. 

“Once it went in it was just a sigh of relief and celebration for me,” said Middleborn

Early in the second half the Cougars kept up the pressure creating changes but were unable to find an additional goal.

Both teams were not shying away from contact seeing the Cougars ending the game with 16 fouls and Seattle U finishing with 13 fouls. Both teams ended up with two yellow cards, Ava Ghoreishi was given a yellow in the 51st minute for unsporting. The Cougs second yellow came in the 76th minute to Maizy Kluksdal also for unsporting. Seattle U’s two yellows came in the 57th minute to U’i Kaaihue for unsporting and in the 79th minute to Zoe Hopkins for unsporting.

In the 59th minute the Redhawks were able to open the score book for themselves as Zoe Hopkins was able to find the back of the net. In the 76th Minute Zoe Hopkins was able to find the back of the net again making it 4-2. 

“I’m not saying we cruised in the second half. We gifted them a goal we got to make that save. It’s just where we’re at. And, they had a nice goal in the second one. So, came a little dicey there,” Said Shulenberger 

In the 80th minute redshirt freshman Kiera Mitchell would go down and would need to be helped off the field with a slight limp. Mitchell has been a key part of this Cougar defense starting every game for Cougs so far this season. She was able to pick up her first  goal this season and of her college career she also has an assist on the year.

For Washington State not only is this their first game in WCC play but also the first WCC action for eight out the 11 starters tonight. Alena Watts and the Captain duo Peyton Price and Maggie Mace the only starters that have experienced WCC action. The Cougars have a lot of new players this year. 20 new players on the roster with six transfers and 14 freshmen. 

“The young kids are really doing a great job for us. I mean, we’re playing six, seven freshmen a game. I was going to say a couple more first time goal scores out there’ freshman, you know what does it say, that they just keep stepping up and how do you keep that gas pedal down,” Said Shulenberger 

The Cougars take on Santa Clara 7 pm Saturday Sep. 27 at the Lower Soccer Field