She’s one of five Cougs to earn all-conference honors. Plus, today’s links!

Good afternoon, Coug fans!

It’s a big Friday full of fun news for your favorite soccer team, the Washington State Cougars. The Pac-12 named their all-conference players today, and you might recognize some names: Team captains Elyse Bennett and Mykiaa Minniss got the first-team nod, along with freshman goalkeeper Nadia Cooper, who took home several other honors as well: beyond being named to the Pac-12 first team, she also was named Freshman of the Year AND Goalkeeper of the Year!

This is obviously huge. Cooper became the first player in program history to earn both honors at the same time. She is the third player in program history to be awarded one of the conference’s top honors. She also wrapped up her first regular season ranked 12th in the country in goals against average.

There’s also this:

Trust us, the story will be worth your time.

As for Bennett and Minniss, they both made the jump from third team last season to first team this time. Both veterans of the program also earned the esteemed all-freshman honor in their respective seasons 2017 for Bennett and 2018 for Minniss!

To add to the celebration, the Cougs also have some third team honorees: Sydney Studer and Bridget Rieken! This is a great boost of confidence as the Cougs are set to host the University of Montana on Saturday for the first round of the NCAA Tournament!

Games for the tournament begin today, but the Cougs don’t get started until 5 p.m. PT tomorrow. In case you want to follow along with the tournament, you can do so here: https://www.ncaa.com/brackets/soccer-women/d1/2021

Montana went 13-5-1 this season, and both Montana and Washington State played Eastern Washington, and both won, except Montana could only manage 2-0, while WSU beat Eastern Washington 4-0.

The game will be on ESPN+ tomorrow! Don’t forget to cheer on your Cougs, and stream Red (Taylor’s Version)! Go Cougs!

Links

WSU opens NCAA tourney against familiar foe | Sports | dnews.com
Washington State’s women’s soccer team made a Cinderella run through the NCAA tournament in 2019, winning three road matches against top-tier talent to get all the way to the College

Cooper headlines five in year end awards – Washington State University Athletics
SAN FRANCSICO – Headlined by their first-year phenom Nadia Cooper, Washington State was well represented among the Pac-12’s elite in the year-end women’s soccer

Oregon hosts WSU Cougars with Pac-12 coming into focus
Oregon appears to be on a roll toward the Pac-12 North title and a spot in the title game, but the Ducks need to get past the WSU Cougars.

Scouting the Cougars: 5 questions, prediction with a Washington State writer – oregonlive.com
Insight on the Cougars from Wazzu beat reporter Colton Clark

Washington State football notebook: Interim coach Jake Dickert commends veteran slotback, secondary for improvements | The Spokesman-Review
PULLMAN – Washington State coaches called on Calvin Jackson Jr. before the season, challenging the slotback to fulfill his potential.

A perfect finish as the Cougs sweep Cal for the second time – Washington State University Athletics
PULLMAN, Wash. – In a match that could have gone south, No. 21 Washington State (16-8, 10-4) showed the perseverance that will pay dividends later in the season

Bennett earns CoSIDA Academic All-Region Honors – Washington State University Athletics
KANSAS CITY – For the second-straight season super senior Elyse Bennett has been to the 2021 Academic All-District® Women’s Soccer Team, this year earning first

Cougars Host Grand Canyon Friday Afternoon at Gibb Pool – Washington State University Athletics
The meet starts Friday at Noon.