Cougars pounce on Aztecs

Morgan Weaver, Averie Collins combine for three goals in first half

Then-sophomore+midfielder+Sydney+Pulver+navigates+the+ball+as+then-sophomore+forward+Elyse+Bennett+blocks+Oregon+defense+during+the+game+against+Oregon+on+Sept.+27%2C+2018+at+the+Lower+Soccer+Field.

BENJAMIN MICHAELIS | DAILY EVERGREEN FILE

Then-sophomore midfielder Sydney Pulver navigates the ball as then-sophomore forward Elyse Bennett blocks Oregon defense during the game against Oregon on Sept. 27, 2018 at the Lower Soccer Field.

KATIE ARCHER, Evergreen reporter

WSU soccer defeated the San Diego State University Aztecs 5-0 in its one exhibition of the season Friday night at the SDSU Sports Deck in San Diego, California.

Senior forward Morgan Weaver led the team with two goals and an assist. Junior forward Elyse Bennett returned to play and scored during the second half of the game.

Graduate transfer forward Averie Collins and freshman forward MacKenzie Frimpong-Ellertson made their debut for the Cougars and both scored a goal. Collins previously played at Stanford where she was a part of three straight Pac-12 championships and one national championship.

Freshman defender Bridget Rieken got her first start as well. Rieken and Frimpong-Ellertson were the two freshmen to start in the game.

The Cougars returned junior defender Aaqila McLyn and graduate student goalkeeper Ella Dederick after they both sustained season-ending injuries during the 2018 season.

“It was a good way to start the season to get an exhibition game under our belt in preparation for Seattle U,” Head Coach Todd Shulenberger said in a press release.

The Cougars start their regular season against Seattle University at 7 p.m. Thursday in Seattle, Washington.