CougZone.com - Wazzu Keeps High NCAA Seeding Chances Alive

November 6, 2009

CougZone News Services

The Washington State University soccer team kept their chances for a high seeding in next week's NCAA Tournament alive with a 0-0 double overtime tie with USC at Cougarland Field in Pullman. With the tie, the Cougars move to 13-4-2 overall and clinch no worse than a tie for third place at 5-1-2 in conference play - setting up a potential Pac-10 showdown for second place with UCLA Bruins at Cougarland Field on Sunday.

The match was a defensive battle in the first half as the two teams battled for possession for much of the 45 minutes. No team even had a shot recorded in the match until 11:05 into the match when USC got one of their two shots the Wazzu defense allowed them for the half. The Cougars were not much more productive offensively. Their first shot of the match did not come until 28:01 into the match when true freshman Brandi Vega's shot was blocked. Freshman Melanie Johnston and sophomore Tiara Pittman got late first half chances but neither could connect and it was a 0-0 tie going into halftime.

Wazzu's defense continued to shut down the Women of Troy in the second half while the Cougar offense found its groove and began to find some shots and dominating possession. But it quickly became a foul-fest for USC as the Women of Troy amassed nine fouls in the half and three yellow cards - two on freshman forward Samantha Johnson in the last eight minutes of the second half, giving Wazzu a player advantage over the last four minutes. The Cougars were unable to take advantage of their superior numbers, however, and the two teams ended the half scoreless and sent the match into overtime.

In overtime, Wazzu took three of the four shots in the extra frame including three corner kicks, but were still unable to hit the match-winner and the Women of Troy staved off the Cougars to send it into double-overtime.

In double overtime, the Cougars could still not get the ball into the net despite the advantage and ended with a tie. Wazzu outshot USC, 15-7 in the match and dominated in corner kicks with an 11-2 advantage while the frustrated Women of Troy picked up 14 fouls and four yellow cards.

With the tie, head coach Matt Potter is 2-2-3 in his Cougar career against USC.

Washington State University continues the 2009 season against UCLA at 11am on Sunday, November 8 at Cougarland Field in Pullman

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