No. 24 WSU soccer ended its regular season play with a 1-0 loss in the 29th Boeing Apple Cup Series at the University of Washington last Friday.

This was Washington State’s first loss in the Apple Cup (11-6-2, 7-4-0) since 2003. Washington State ends it regular season play 12-6-1 overall and 5-5-1 in conference.

Despite the Huskies’ penalty kick goal in the 82th minute by sophomore forward Summer Yates, Washington State soccer will continue play in the postseason. WSU will host the first round of the NCAA Tournament against the University of Memphis Tigers (17-2-1, 8-0-1).

During the Selection Show on Monday, WSU Athletics Director Patrick Chun said the women’s soccer team has earned the right to play one time together.

“I tell everyone who asks me, the biggest group of alphas we have on any team here at Washington State is the women’s soccer team,” Chun said. “When I look at you guys, I know what you are made of.”

Hope Solo attended the Apple Cup match last Friday, as she was an alumna to the Huskies retiring head coach Lesle Gallimore. Gallimore celebrated 26 years of coaching at Washington in her last regular home game of the season.

Both the Cougars and Huskies gave the crowd an exciting game to watch as there were three yellow cards and 26 fouls distributed during the match.

In minute 81, Yates finished for the Huskies in a penalty kick just sweeping past WSU graduate student goalkeeper Ella Dederick’s fingers, even after Dederick dove the correct way.

Dederick said looking beyond the game against UW and is excited to play in one more home game on the Lower Soccer Field.

“I know it will actually be my last home game here, so I am just really excited and go out there and play my hardest and give it my all,” Dederick said.

Before the goal scored in the second half, Washington State had dominated offensively and defensively against Washington.

The Cougars had 17 fouls, 17 shots and 13 corners against the Huskies. Washington had nine fouls, 11 shots and three corners.

Graduate student midfielder Averie Collins said it was a tough loss, but she believes her team has what it takes for the next round in the NCAA tournament.

“I think soccer is just like that sometimes. It does not bounce your way,” Collins said. “I think we need to come back together and really put the ball in the back of the net. I think that will be our focus this week.”

Like Collins, sophomore defender Kelis Barton said despite the final score against UW the game did not represent her team’s regular season.

“Who knows, we might meet them again in the tournament if we both make it far,” Barton said. “I think it sucked that it happened, but it is kind of like here we go, here we have another chance to be great and finish off our season strong.”

Head coach Todd Shulenberger said the last time his team went to the sweet-sixteen in the NCAA tournament was after a tie against the Huskies in 2017.

“I think we have a little bit more fight, but we will see where it goes,” Shulenberger said. “Our schedule is definitely one that has had us tested. Memphis has one loss, but I don’t think they play the schedule we have…but they are a very good so we will have our work cut out for us.”

Washington State soccer will begin Dad’s Weekend against the Memphis Tigers at 5 p.m. on Friday on the Lower Soccer Field.

“Right now, there is one thing in our way getting two games and that’s Memphis,” Chun said. “So, fight like crazy because this is a pretty special group. A special group of coaches and one amazing senior class.”