PULLMAN, Wash. – Jessica Nelson's goal in the 36th minute ended Arizona's (9-4-1, 3-3) three-game losing streak as they defeated the 16th-ranked Washington State Cougars (11-3, 4-2) by a score of 1-0.
“To come on the road against a top-20 team and win on the road is huge,” head coach Tony Amato said. “We grinded out a lot of the more important moments of the match and were dangerous in set pieces. The team put in a complete effort to get the win tonight.”
Goalkeeper Lainey Burdett played one of the best matches of her career as she finished the night with a career-high nine saves and snuffed out several other Washington State attacks. Her nine saves are also the most saves by an Arizona goalkeeper in one match since Gabby Kaufman made 11 saves on Sept. 5, 2014 against Texas A&M.
Washington State outshot the Wildcats 25-12 and Arizona still managed to walk away with a victory for just the second time this season when being outshot. Also, Arizona is now 8-1 in matches when the score first and 6-0 when leading at halftime.
The Cougars controlled the beginning of the match as they had a good chance to score in just the fourth minute. Kaitlyn Johnson had a breakaway with Arizona keeper Lainey Burdett, but her shot went wide right.
At the 10th minute, Cara Wegner had a good look at goal off a low cross from a corner kick. The shot was on target, but Sheaffer Skadsen was at the goal line to block the shot. The Cougars earned another corner after that, but nothing came of it.
In the 15th minute, Gabi Stoian and Laura Pimienta made some nice passes which allowed Stoian to get some room for a shot. She took it with her left foot from about 25 yards out, but Washington State keeper Ella Dederick made the save with ease.
Minutes later, Washington State had another good opportunity to score as they delivered a ball into the goal box, but Burdett jumped up and snatched it out of the air. Had a Washington State player gotten there first, it was more than likely going to be a goal.
In the 18th minute, Grace Hancock had the best scoring chance for either team off a free kick. The ball found her feet on the back post and there was no one around her. She took the shot towards Burdett, but it sailed over the goal and into the crowd, keeping the score at 0-0.
The Wildcats broke the seal in the 36th minute as Nelson scored her first career goal off a corner kick by Stoian. The ball was not controlled by either team immediately, but Nelson eventually saw her chance to score and she cashed in, giving Arizona a 1-0 lead going into halftime.
Five minutes into the second half, Burdett was forced to step in front of a cross in order to keep the clean sheet. Four minutes later, Jaden DeGracie took her first shot of the night. It wasn't an easy one for Dederick as she was not able to catch it cleanly, but she still made the save nonetheless.
In the 65th minute, Cara Wegner ripped a shot towards the cage and it looked to be on target. The ball ended up sailing just past the right post though.
Just a few minutes later, danger struck for the Wildcats. Pimienta made a beautiful defensive play to step in front of a defender and stop a potential breakaway, but the Cougars earned a corner kick. It ended up being a first-class corner kick and Washington State ripped a shot on target, but Burdett parried it away. The follow up shot then was sent over the cross bar.
In the 69th minute, Burdett showed off her acrobatics as she was forced to lay out and grab a cross that was headed towards the back post, where a Washington State attacker was waiting to head the ball into the goal.
The Cougars had one more chance, but Skadsen went to the ground to make the stop. She was able to get the ball and also took down the player, but no foul was called and the ball was cleared and Arizona hung on for the victory.
The Wildcats are back in action on Friday, Oct. 23 as the Oregon Ducks come to Tucson. The match will take place at 7 p.m. MST at Mulcahy Stadium.
FOLLOW SOCCER ON SOCIAL MEDIA!
Fans can keep up with the latest in Arizona women's soccer by following us on Facebook (Facebook.com/ArizonaWSocccer), Twitter (@ArizonaWSoccer), Instagram (arizonasoccer), Youtube (Youtube.com/arizonawildcatsoccer) and Vine (Arizona Soccer).
