By Tim Clinton
Washington State University may not have a varsity men's soccer program, but it certainly has an impressive women's soccer team.
The lady Cougars kicked their way into the NCAA playoffs a total of 14 times, including an advance to the 2019 College Cup semifinals.
The 2019 WSU team opened the NCAA tournament with a 1-0 victory over Memphis before eliminating No. 3-ranked Virginia by a 3-2 score in a road match.
Next up was West Virginia, and the Cougars pounced on that team for a victory by a 3-0 margin.
Washington State journeyed to the home of No. 5-ranked South Carolina next and made the College Cup "Final Four" with a 1-0 win in overtime.
But the Cougars drew No. 2 North Carolina in the semifinals and went down to a narrow 2-1 defeat to finish with a record of 16-7-1.
WSU finished with a No. 4 ranking in the final poll of coaches.
That was the Cougars' deepest drive ever into the NCAA playoffs.
This past fall in 2024 the Cougars finished with a 16-12 mark overall and did not make the NCAA playoffs, but did reach the NIVC tournament.
They took an opening 3-0 loss to Utah Valley.
WSU went 9-6-4 in 2023 and 8-7-4 in 2022 to miss the postseason but made its last NCAA appearance in 2021.
The Cougars tamed the Montana Grizzlies, 3-0, to open before taking a 2-0 loss to Tennessee to finish 14-3-4 overall.
Washington State finished 6-3-3 in 2020 and missed out.
The Cougars are currently involved in their spring practice schedule under head coach Todd Shulenberger, who will enter his 10th season this fall as their winningest coach ever with 98 total victories.
Shulenberger has an overall record of 98-55-23.