Cougs in Pro Soccer | September 21, 2026
Trinity Rodman gave Washington Spirit the spark they needed in Illinois, while Morgan Weaver found the kind of goal that turns heads in Orlando. Elsewhere, Elyse Bennett’s Roses de Montréal fought to a draw in Vancouver, Maggie Mace logged 60 minutes for Fort Lauderdale United, and the Ascent stayed on top with another shutout win.
Rodman wasted no time setting the tone for the Spirit against the Chicago Stars. She opened the scoring in the seventh minute with a left-footed shot from the left center of the box that ripped into the top left corner.
Washington kept rolling from there, with Sullivan converting a penalty in the 34th minute and Bolt finishing off Rodman’s cross in the 85th to seal a 3-0 win. Rodman finished with four shots, two on target, and two big chances created.
The Spirit also had to note that Studer is out with a knee injury.
Weaver’s night with Portland came in a much livelier road game against Orlando. The Thorns jumped ahead almost immediately, getting goals from Nijstad in the third minute and Wilson on a penalty in the 20th.
Orlando answered through Lemos in the 30th, but Portland carried a 2-1 lead into halftime. Weaver entered in the 53rd minute and later delivered her first goal since November 1, 2024, blasting a long-range effort in the 74th minute into the top right corner.
Portland added one more in the 88th to leave with a 4-1 victory.
Bennett started and went the distance for the Roses in Vancouver on Saturday, September 19, in a match that stayed scoreless through the first half before opening up late. Pechersky put the Roses in front in the 67th minute, but Vancouver Rise FC answered through de Filippo in the 83rd. Tumeth appeared to have won it for the Rise with a goal in the 90+2, only for Badu to strike a minute later and level it at 2-2.
On the same weekend, San Luis hosted Pachuca on Sunday, September 20, and won 2-1 even though Elaily was not on the roster.
Mace got the start for Fort Lauderdale United on September 18 against Dallas Trinity FC and played 60 minutes before coming off, likely as a precaution after being injured last week. Dallas scored in the 32nd and 46th minutes to build a two-goal cushion, and Gordon pulled one back in the 59th for Fort Lauderdale, but that was as close as the home side got in a 2-1 loss.
At home on Saturday, the Ascent handled Brooklyn FC 1-0 behind Shea Groom’s lone goal in the 63rd minute. Tappan started and played all 90 minutes, and the result kept the Ascent at the top of the table, five points ahead of second-place Sporting Jax.
In Other News...
Washington States Home Opener Took A Turn Fans Werent Expecting
Washington States home opener at Gesa Field started the way the Cougars hoped, with a commanding 48-7 win over Duquesne and a smooth debut victory for first-year head coach Kirby Moore. Quarterback Caden Pinnick played a major role in the lopsided result, giving the Cougars a promising first look in a season that now has a little early momentum behind it.
The postgame conversation, though, drifted far beyond the score. One fan in the crowd drew widespread outrage online after wearing a custom jersey that quickly became the most talked-about image from the afternoon, prompting condemnation across social media and adding an uncomfortable subplot to an otherwise celebratory opener. For a program trying to build buzz around a new coach and a strong start, it was an odd and unwelcome detour. [Read more 🡒]
WSU Tennis Leaves Boise With One Encouraging Sign And A Bigger Concern
Washington State left the Barb Chandler Classic with a little of both: a few results that should help steady the group, and enough uneven play to leave the staff wanting more. The Cougars mixed doubles and singles results against Utah, Washington, Weber State and Boise State, with Chisato Kanemaki and Yura Nakagawa providing some of the brighter moments in singles while also helping win doubles for the Cougars. Gabriella Harper and Nakagawa were another winning doubles pair, and Ava-Monet Sycamore joined Kanemaki for a doubles victory as well.
The encouraging part is that WSU proved it can still put points on the board against a varied field, and the next stop in Eugene should offer another chance to build on that. The bigger concern is consistency, because the Cougars had enough winning efforts to show promise but not enough of them to leave Boise feeling settled. They head to the Duck Invitational next, looking for a cleaner, more complete weekend. [Read more 🡒]
Washington State Faces A Serious Test From Arizonas Hottest Threat
Arizonas latest win over Northern Illinois did more than keep momentum rolling, it gave Washington State a fresh reminder of what is coming to Pullman. Noah Fifita carved up the Huskies for a 42-17 victory and, in the process, moved past 10,011 passing yards to set a new school record. Brent Brennan, who recently agreed to a contract extension through 2030, made sure to acknowledge the milestone afterward, underscoring how central the quarterback has become to Arizonas offense.
For Washington State, the challenge is less about a single hot stretch than the kind of threat Arizona has been able to bring into these meetings before. Recent trips to Pullman have featured their share of decisive plays and standout performers, and this version of the Wildcats looks capable of forcing the pace again. The Cougars will have to sort out Fifita quickly, because the way Arizona handled Northern Illinois suggests the margin for error is going to be slim. [Read more 🡒]