No. 18 WSU takes on tough Nebraska
Cougars are favored in matchup where both teams have yet to lose
OLIVER MCKENNA | DAILY EVERGREEN FILE
Junior forward Morgan Weaver attempts to keep the ball away from GCU junior defender Fiona Samodurov during the match against GCU on Aug. 19 at the Lower Soccer Field.
August 31, 2018
No. 18 WSU takes on University of Nebraska on Friday in a rematch of last season’s epic upset. This time around, the Cougs are going into the match as the favorites, having conceded only one goal in regular season play to their hosts’ three.
“It’s going to be a battle, it’s going to be rowdy,” Head Coach Todd Shulenberger said. “But we’re up for the challenge.”
Last time the Cornhuskers visited Pullman, they were ranked No. 14 but were unable to break down WSU’s defense. The Cougs would emerge victorious in their first match of the 2017 Cougar Classic, dispatching Nebraska 1-0 in their second shutout victory against a top 25 team.
WSU (3-0) remains unbeaten going into the weekend, but Nebraska (3-0-1) will be the toughest opponent the Cougs face so far this season. UN just missed making the coaches poll as they recived the most votes after the No. 25 team.
The Cornhuskers previously rolled over Oregon State University 3-0, holding their rivals and preventing them from taking a single shot on the goal.
Meanwhile, WSU took down University of Minnesota last weekend in a 2-0 victory after the match against University of Iowa was postponed due to inclement weather. Against Minnesota, the Cougs dominated possession as they have become accustomed to doing this season.
Both goals against the Gophers were scored by new goal-scorers, as sophomore midfielder Makamae Gomera-Stevens scored her first goal of the season and freshman defender Mykiaa Minniss headed in the first goal of her career. Minniss’ goal and defensive performance also earned her the Cougars’ second-straight Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Week Award.
Against Nebraska (3-0-1), WSU will look again to out-possess its hosts and rely on its in-form offense to break down the Huskers. Veteran senior defenders Maddy Haro and Grace Hancock will need to lead the Cougar defense to once more shut out their opponents.
WSU will kick off against the Cornhuskers 4 p.m. Friday afternoon at Hibner Stadium in Lincoln, Nebraska, in the only game this weekend. The game will be broadcasted live on Big Ten Networks.
