Shulenberger earns win No. 100 as Cougs beat Vandals

PULLMAN — The Washington State Cougar soccer team (2-1) defeated the Idaho Vandals, 2-1, Sunday night at Lower Soccer Field to give head coach Todd Shulenberger his 100th career win. Seniors Jenna Studer and Julianna Duckett each scored their first goal of the season to secure the win.

"That was a great game," Shulenberger said postgame. "Idaho played us hard, and these games are always tight, so we will take the win. Good for Julianna [Duckett] to put that away for us. She's a very composed kid on the ball. The fact that she's hungry around goal only elevates her game even more."

The Cougars took control of the match at kickoff, working to possess into the final third with prodding passes in the channels. WSU broke through on a 29th-minute corner kick when Jenna Studer finished a cleared ball at the near post after Idaho's goalkeeper, Paula Flores, punched the first attempt into the area away. Studer jumped on the ball before the Vandals' defense could react, netting her first goal of the year and second career Cougar goal. Washington State held Idaho without a shot attempt in the first half, outshooting the Vandals, 9-0.

Returning from halftime, WSU controlled the narrow lead, looking content to hunt quality chances while Idaho took more possession. The Vandals equalized in the 53rd minute when WSU's Reagan Kotschau lost her footing, allowing Margo Schoesler the space to one-time the ball into the upper right corner from outside the area.

Idaho's goal reignited the Cougars' attack, as WSU threw attackers into the Vandals' area. With 10 second-half corner kicks, the Cougs continued to hammer shots at goal with 15 second-half shots. The Vandals punched away an initial corner kick service, but only as far as senior transfer Julianna Duckett. The Pepperdine transfer took the shot on the full volley, slipping the shot through traffic and into the near post for the game-winner.

In total, the Cougars outshot Idaho 24-1 with Idaho's lone shot resulting in their goal. WSU put up 15 corner kicks while the match saw seven yellow cards and 28 total fouls.

Washington State will take a seven-day respite before a road trip to nationally-ranked Stanford next Sunday, Sept. 1 at Stanford, Calif. Kickoff is scheduled for 1 p.m. with coverage on ACCNX.