The Arizona women’s soccer team had a disappointing weekend as Washington State (9-4-1) shut out the Wildcats on Sunday in Pullman, Wash., 3-0 after the Wildcats tied the Washington Huskies (8-3-2) 1-1 in double overtime on Friday in Seattle.
After being outshot against the Huskies, the Wildcats (5-6-3) looked to turn the tables against the Cougars on Sunday.
However, the UA’s quick attacking tactic that led to an early lead on Friday did not follow into Sunday’s match against Washington State.
“We didn’t come out or play very well today,” head coach Lisa Oyen said. “We gave up an early goal and we had a hard time fighting back. We didn’t have a good performance and it was reflected in the score.”
The Cougars struck first, scoring at just under the 10-minute mark. Washington State defender Rachael Doyle scored her second goal of the season on the header off a cross from the right side of the field, giving Washington State the early lead 1-0.
Junior midfielder Ana-Maria Montoya answered back with an on-goal shot attempt, but the Cougars’ goalkeeper Ariana Byrd saved it.
With 40 seconds left in the first half, Washington State attacked aggressively, catching Arizona’s defense off guard. After Cougars forward Micaela Castain shot the ball and hit the post, midfielder Zoe Jeffers rebounded the ball and scored her first goal of the season. Washington State had a commanding 2-0 lead over the Wildcats going into the half. Even though two goals escaped junior goalkeeper Gabby Kaufman’s hands, she still recorded four saves for the half.
The Cougars outshot Arizona in the first half 8-6, marking the seventh time an opponent has outshot the Wildcats in the first half this season. Montoya and junior forward and midfielder Jazmin
Ponce led Arizona with two shot attempts each with a combined shot on goal percentage of 75 percent.
Kaufman tied her number of saves in the first half by the ten minute mark of the second half, as Washington State’s aggressive offense play broke down the Wildcats’ defense. Kaufman registered three saves and one block.
“Gabby performed well throughout the weekend,” Oyen said. “She was faced with a lot of one-on-one shots and made great saves.”
Just under the 57th minute and after five of seven on-goal shot attempts, the Cougars scored a third goal. Washington State forward Brandi Vega scored her fifth goal of the season off another rebounded shot off the post.
The Wildcats could not come back from the three goal deficit, marking their third shutout loss for the season. Arizona was outshot by the Cougars 18-11 for the match, with only five shots on goal to Washington State’s 12, marking the sixth time an opponent outshot the Wildcats this season.
