Washington State wrapped up its nonconference slate Wednesday night with a 2-1 win over Seattle U at Lower Soccer Field, and the Cougars had to earn every bit of it.
The opening minute set the tone. True freshman Isabella Amado needed just 54 seconds to put WSU in front, scoring the first collegiate goal of her career and giving the Cougars an early jolt.
Her finish came after she found room at the top of the right side of the penalty area, slipped between defenders and lifted a shot over the goalkeeper’s hands into the top near post. The strike was also the sixth-fastest goal in Washington State soccer history.
Seattle U answered before halftime, but not before nearly leveling the match earlier. The Redhawks had a goal wiped out in the 13th minute after video review ruled it offside. Then in the 28th minute, Leila Leano brought Seattle U even with a left-footed finish into the far side-netting from 16 yards out.
From there, Ashlyn Dvorak kept Washington State alive. The redshirt-senior goalkeeper posted a career-high 13 saves, the most by a Cougar keeper in six seasons, and made 10 of them in the first half alone.
Washington State was under heavy pressure throughout the opening 45 minutes, and the Redhawks finished with a season-high 14 shots on target against the Cougars. WSU surrendered 11 first-half shots on target before tightening things up after the break and allowing just three in the final half.
“It was the adjustments at halftime,” Coach Chris Citowicki said. “The final conversation before we went out for the second half was about not just being a team that works hard, but also a team that outsmarts people.
We’re going to be intelligent. So, for us to maintain that identity when Seattle U had the flow and it looked like the game might get away from us shows you how much we’ve matured since the first game.”
The winner came in the 66th minute, and it arrived in a messy but effective way. Senior Emma Widmor sent a cross in from the left side of the endline looking for Makena Smith, but the ball never reached its target. Instead, it bounced off a Seattle U defender and into the near post for the deciding goal.
In Other News...
WSU Is Expanding Martin Stadium Options With A Catch For Fans
Washington State is adding more variety at Martin Stadium this fall, expanding its home football alcohol menu to 11 different beer and seltzer options starting with the game against Duquesne. The move is part of a broader push around the fan experience, with new dining options also announced for the stadium as the Cougars continue to tinker with what game day looks like on the Palouse.
There is a catch for fans, though, as the alcohol pilot program is set to continue into 2026 with more alcohol-free sections and tighter enforcement aimed at monitoring sales and preventing policy violations. The school is also planning stricter consequences for breaches, a sign that the increased options will come with closer oversight as Washington State tries to balance access, safety, and the atmosphere inside Martin Stadium. [Read more 🡒]
WSU Found A Bigger Role For Leo Pulalasi At The Right Time
With injuries thinning Washington States tight end room, Leo Pulalasi has quietly become one of the more useful pieces in the offenses reshaped puzzle. The junior running backs job has expanded this season, and his move to H-back during the offseason gave the Cougars another way to keep key personnel on the field without sacrificing flexibility.
Kirby Moore said the role change was part of the plan well before the opener, and Pulalasi has already shown why it matters. He supplied a lead block on a touchdown in the season opener, while also getting a few touches as a runner and receiver, a modest usage profile that still hints at how much the staff trusts him in multiple spots. [Read more 🡒]
WSU Is Bringing A New Look To Its Martin Stadium Opener
Washington State is giving Martin Stadium a fresh first impression for its 2026 home opener against Duquesne, unveiling a new uniform combination built around white helmets with the crimson Cougar logo, paired with crimson jerseys and crimson pants. The look was revealed with fifth-year defensive tackle Paul Hutson III serving as the model, giving the rollout a veteran face from a player who arrived from Marshall and has already carved out a role in the rotation.
Hutson has logged 60 snaps this season, and his presence helps underscore why these small details matter in Pullman. Openers carry a little extra weight anyway, and a new home look can become part of the atmosphere as Washington State settles into the season in front of its own crowd, even before the football itself starts to sort out what kind of team this will be. [Read more 🡒]