Soccer takes on Zags

The+cougar+soccer+team+discussing+the+next+drill+during+practice+on+the+Lower+Soccer+Field%2C+Aug.+20%2C+2014.

The cougar soccer team discussing the next drill during practice on the Lower Soccer Field, Aug. 20, 2014.

From staff reports

The Washington State women’s soccer team will travel to Spokane Friday to take on the Gonzaga Bulldogs. This rivalry has been dominated by the Cougars (3-0-2) who are 21-0-1 all-time against Gonzaga (3-3-0).

Coming off a three score performance against Hawaii, the Cougs look to take that momentum into Spokane.

“We have a lot of combination right now, we have a lot of attacking options. We have depth, we want to run at teams, we want to press them,” Head Coach Steve Nugent said. “We have depth right now, we see players coming off the bench seeing quality minutes right now.”

One player to watch is redshirt junior Beau Bremer, who scored twice last Sunday and is beginning to find the net often.

“We are in a good place as a program, we need to stick together and keep playing hard. We need to keep it up until Pac-12 play,” Bremer said.

Gonzaga will not roll over if a goal is scored on them early; they will fight to the end said Nugent.

“Gonzaga is really good at home, they are a physical team, and their results this year are not indicative of the team that they are,” Nugent said. “We are playing a really good team. We are playing a team with a lot of pride and a lot of energy, along with a great coaching staff.”

Nugent highlighted that his players and coaching staff could get a consistent schedule for the next couple of weeks. With games against Spokane and Idaho, the team will be sleeping in their beds at night.

“Even though it is an away game we get to sleep in our own beds, consistently, for the first time in weeks,” Nugent said. “Our non-conference has been herky-jerky; it will be nice to have a consistent training rhythm for the next 18 days.”

Nugent said going undefeated in the non-conference was one of the team’s short term goals heading into the season, as was feeling comfortable with their play and each other heading into the Pac-12 matches.

After Washington State plays Gonzaga they will take on the University of Idaho on Sunday. Idaho is winless this season and the Cougs look to squash the reeling Vandals. The Cougars have won the last nine matches against the Vandals, and kickoff will be at 4 p.m. in Moscow.

Reporting by Ian Korzeniecki