PULLMAN, Wash. --- UC Irvine women's soccer earned a result against Washington State for the first time since 1991 with a 1-1 draw Thursday night at Lower Soccer Field.
- The teams played a pretty even first half with a 0-0 scoreline and Washington State edging UCI slightly in shots, 6-4, and corners, 5-2
- The main highlight of the half was a stellar stop by Ashley Naylor in the 24th minute as a set piece was cleared right to a Cougar player who tapped a shot on its way to goal before Naylor dove to her left to snag a ball at her feet
- Chances were slow to come as the second half began, but the Cougars got the breakthrough in the 64th minute with Jenna Studer heading a perfect corner home from 10 yards out for a 1-0 lead for the home team
- UC Irvine responded with a perfectly-placed header of their own as Milan Heisdorf sliced a cross from the right wing finding Emilie Castagna on the run sneaking a shot under the bar and over the leaping Nadia Cooper to tie it up, 1-1, in the 71st minute
- Things would finish that way as UCI would end a three-match losing streak, and break a four-match losing streak to Washington State that had lasted over 30 years
- Castagna's goal was her first of the season and sixth overall in her career
- Heisdorf provided the primary assist for the first point of the freshman's career, while Mihaela Perez got the sequence started and earned her fourth career assist and point because of it
- Naylor made just the one save while her counterpart made a pair. WSU finished on top in shots, 10-7, and corners, 10-3.
- UCI employed some new names in the Starting XI led by Mia Colombini with her first career start joined by second career starts for Heisdorf and Mirayah Villalpando
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UCI's week concludes at the beginning of their 28-day trip away from Anteater Stadium. Next on their slate is a road match at Pacific next Thursday, September 12.
