Husky Ladies’s Soccer Kicks Off 2025 Season At Dwelling Thursday Versus Oregon State

SEATTLE – Looking the construct on the momentum of a greater than profitable first season within the Big Ten, the Washington ladies’s soccer group will take its first step ahead in 2025 Thursday night time at Husky Soccer Stadium, internet hosting Oregon State for a 7:00 p.m. PT kickoff.
 
The Dawgs’ season opener can be accessible for streaming on B1G+. Links to tickets and full match protection choices can be found on the schedule web page at GoHuskies.com.
 
SCOUTING OREGON STATE
After guiding the Beavers as interim head coach a season in the past, Caroline Kelly had her interim tag eliminated forward of the 2025 season and enters her second marketing campaign guiding the Oregon State program.
 
The Beavers posted a 7-9-2 report a season in the past, together with 5-3-2 of their first season as a member of the West Coast Conference. OSU returns to WCC play this season earlier than becoming a member of the revamped Pac-12 Conference.
 
While Oregon State was compelled to exchange over half of its roster by way of both commencement or the switch portal, a number of key contributors nonetheless return to the Beaver lineup.
 
Among that group is beginning goalkeeper Mya Sanchez, who performed ever minutes between the posts for OSU final season. Leading the WCC in saves (92) and rating third in save share (.780), Sanchez was bestowed with Preseason All-WCC honors. Graduate switch ahead Carly Carraher is the Beavers’ main returning scorer with three objectives final season. The Honorable Mention All-WCC honoree can also be OSU’s main returner in pictures (36) and pictures on aim (17). Senior defender Paola Figueroa, who led Oregon State with 4 assists final season, can also be again within the Beaver squad.
 
Oregon State bolstered its lineup with myriad new additions, together with a number of from exterior the Division I ranks. Emily Ibsen (Adams State), Sammy Martinez (Hartnell College), Kassidy Michael (Southern New Hampshire), Alexi Morgan (Chemeketa Community College) and Evee Stoddard (Peninsula College) will all be making their first foray into faculty soccer’s high degree.
 
SERIES HISTORY
Longtime foes within the Pac-12 Conference, Washington and Oregon State have a sturdy historical past in opposition to each other. The Huskies personal a 20-7-6 benefit throughout the 33 all-time conferences, together with an 8-4-3 mark in Seattle. After four-straight UW victories from 2018-21, the 2 sides have drawn the final two matchups in 2022 in Seattle and in 2023 in Corvallis.

LAST MEETING (10/29/23)

CORVALLIS, ORE. – The Huskies dominated possession and had almost the entire scoring probabilities versus Oregon State however thanks partly to a heroic effort from Beaver keeper Hailey Coll, Washington was compelled to accept a scoreless draw at Paul Lorenz Field.

 

While a look on the stat sheet might recommend a good affair, the Dawgs dictated play all through the day in Corvallis. UW outshot the Beavers 20-17, placing half of their pictures on aim.

 

Kelsey Branson very almost gave the Huskies a lead lower than 4 minutes in, taking down a ball excessive, however was denied in her 1-on-1 by Coll.

Shortly earlier than half, the Dawgs turned protection into offense as Kolo Suliafu related with Enora Matté, who bent a pleasant by way of ball into Jace Holmes path. The junior ran onto it and hit the ball effectively together with her left, placing the crossbar to disclaim the opener.

 

Branson once more received in behind within the 62nd minute and fired a pushed shot close to publish, however as soon as once more Coll was there to make the save. Tatum Thomason, Thursday’s hero, then had a pair of fine appears in fast succession within the seventieth and 71st minute, however could not beat Coll.

 

As the seconds continued to tick down, the Huskies have been almost dealt a devastating blow close to the ultimate whistle when the Beavers put the ball behind the web. However, the aim was chalked off on a foul on Juarez, wiping the slate clear as issues completed nil-nil.

MIA KICKS CANCER

Washington can be enjoying for excess of bragging rights and glory on the pitch in 2025, sporting an orange ribbon on the entrance of its jerseys in assist of senior goalkeeper Mia Hamant, who was identified with Stage 4 SMARCB1-deficient kidney most cancers. Hamant hopes to return to the pitch in Purple and Gold however won’t swimsuit up on the pitch in 2025.

 

The California native, who lately celebrated her twenty first birthday, did extra than simply carry out in her first season as Washington’s main keeper a season in the past, she starred. Hamant posted the nation’s third-best save share in 2024 at .882, whereas UW collectively hailed the NCAA’s high save share. Hamant’s 0.66 objectives in opposition to common was the third lowest in a season for a UW keeper, whereas her seven clear sheets have been the sixth most in a season for a Husky.

 

Hamant, who additionally excels within the classroom at U Dub as a College Sports Communicators Academic All-District and Big Ten Fall All-Academic honoree, put UW on her again throughout Washington’s postseason run final season. The Redwood HS product was named to the Big Ten All-Tournament Team after making three penalty saves to elevate UW over Iowa into the Big Ten Semifinals, then adopted up with extra penalty shootout excellence as UW superior previous No. 25 Utah State into the Second Round of the NCAA Tournament.

 

The UW group has rallied round Hamant, with a number of Husky applications donning orange ribbons within the standout shot stopper’s honor. Additionally, a GoFundMe to assist the assorted prices related to Hamant’s care has raised over $125,000 up to now. Fans can observe together with Hamant’s most cancers journey on Instagram at @miakickscancer.

ALL ROADS CLOSED

The stout Husky defensive unit, which tied this system report for fewest objectives allowed in a single season in 2024, surrendering simply 12, is led by senior centerback Kolo Suliafu, who was named to the United Soccer Coaches’ Defenders to Watch listing. Suliafu, a Second Team All-Big Ten and United Soccer Coaches All-Region choice, has made 35 consecutive begins for Washington and contributed to 22 clear sheets all through her illustrious UW profession, together with 20 as a member of the beginning XI. Suliafu was additionally ranked because the No. 91 participant in all of ladies’s faculty soccer in TopDrawerSoccer’s annual preseason top-100 listing. Washington can be with out Suliafu’s companies for Thursday night time’s opener because the senior serves a one-match suspension after receiving a purple card in UW’s NCAA Tournament match with No. 2 Mississippi State.

WATCH OUT!

Suliafu was joined on the Big Ten Players to Watch List by a pair of teammates in junior midfielder Samiah Shell and fifth yr Laura Cetina. It was Suliafu’s second consecutive look on the preseason listing.

 

Shell, a local of Auburn, Washington, is Washington’s main returning scorer with 5 objectives throughout a breakout sophomore marketing campaign. A former participant within the prestigious High School All-American Game, Shell additionally dished out three assists in 2024 for 13 complete factors. The Auburn Riverside HS product opened her Husky scoring account with a aim at No. 10 Santa Clara, additionally including a brace in UW’s Big Ten highway victory over Maryland.

 

Meanwhile, Cetina is a recent face to Montlake, becoming a member of Washington after enjoying the final two seasons at UMass Lowell, the previous house of Husky All-Big Ten standout Ioanna Papatheodorou. Cetina brings a successful pedigree in tow, having guided Eastern Florida State College to its first-ever NJCAA National Championship in 2021. Prior to coming stateside, the A Coruña, Spain, native scored 38 objectives over 4 seasons for Spanish membership Victoria C.F.

BRICK-BY-BRICK

Washington boasted one of many nation’s perfect mixture of goalkeeping and defensive aptitude in 2024. In addition to main the nation in save share, UW’s 0.560 objectives in opposition to common was the eighth-best in Division I, whereas the Huskies’ shutout share of 52.4 % ranked twenty eighth nationally. In aim, the duo of Hamant and senior Olivia Juarez proved almost inconceivable to beat, combining to tie the college report with 11 clear sheets on the season. Juarez set Washington’s program information for profession objectives in opposition to common (0.89) and single season GAA (0.32).

 

SMART COOKIES

For the tenth straight season, Washington has acquired the United Soccer Coaches Academic Award after incomes a 3.67 group GPA.

KEEP SLEEPING

Despite grossly outperforming its preseason prognostication of thirteenth within the 2024 Big Ten Preseason Coaches Poll, ending tied for fifth within the league desk and advancing to the Big Ten Tournament Semifinals, Washington as soon as once more isn’t predicted to be amongst the league’s high groups. The Huskies have been picked to complete ninth within the 2025 iteration of the preseason ballot, with USC predicted to win this season’s league crown.

 

2025 Big Ten Women’s Soccer Preseason Poll

1. USC

2. UCLA

3. Penn State

4. Michigan State

5. Ohio State

6. Iowa

7. Wisconsin

8. Rutgers

9. Washington

10. Minnesota

11. Purdue

12. Nebraska

13. Michigan

14. Northwestern

15. Illinois

16. Oregon

17. Indiana

18. Maryland

STARTING XI FIXTURE

Since making seven-straight begins to finish her freshman marketing campaign, junior Kelsey Branson has not didn’t crack the Huskies’ beginning XI a single time, a streak spanning 47 consecutive matches. Branson is the one Husky to start out all 19 matches in 2023 and all 21 fixtures of 2024.

 

YES INDEED I CAN RUN IT, RUN IT

After Washington made its dwelling largely off of set piece alternatives in 2023, the overwhelming majority of the Huskies’ 24 objectives in 2024 got here by way of build-up play. The Huskies scored 16 instances final season from the run of play, in comparison with eight objectives coming off of set items.

 

LEFT SIDE, BEST SIDE

Of the 28 members of Washington’s 2025 roster, 20 hail from West Coast states, that includes 11 natives of California, eight house state merchandise from Washington and one product of the Portland suburbs in Oregon. However, Washington’s squad spans the US and globe, with natives of Georgia, Kansas, Nevada and 5 internationals donning the Purple and Gold.

HOME SWEET HOME

Washington can be compelled to go away the pleasant confines of its house state simply as soon as over the primary seven matches of the season. UW opens the season with three-consecutive house fixtures at Husky Soccer Stadium, adopted by the one journey throughout borders in non-conference play to UC Irvine. Road matches at in-state foes Seattle U and Gonzaga observe earlier than UW wraps up non-Big Ten motion at house in opposition to one other former Pac-12 rival in Utah.

CONSISTENCY IS KEY

For the second consecutive season, Washington returns each member of its teaching employees, retaining assistant coaches Cole Schmit, Raphael Cox and Kary Whitney to Nicole Van Dyke‘s employees. Previously Washington had not returned each member of its teaching employees since 2018.

LEADING BY EXAMPLE

This summer season, Washington senior Lucy Newlin was considered one of two UW athletes chosen as a Big Ten’s Outstanding Sportsmanship Award honoree, together with baseball’s Malakhi Knight. A two-way participant on the pitch and within the classroom, Newlin leads by way of each phrases and actions, displaying consummate respect and sportsmanship for each her teammates and opponents. The NorCal native can also be a pacesetter locally for the Dawgs, persistently score as considered one of UW’s high members in group service initiatives. On the sector, the Newlin is predicted to be a key cog to the Husky protection after battling by way of nagging accidents in 2024.

CROOTIN’ ALL OVER THE WORLD

Washington spanned not solely the nation to bolster its roster in 2025, the Huskies searched everywhere in the world to herald the latest group of Dawgs. UW added 5 Europeans this summer season in midfielder Laura Cetina (Spain/UMass Lowell), goalkeeper Cadi Doran (Wales/Liverpool FC), defender Julia Hüsch (Germany/UNC Asheville) and defender Anouk Westphal (Germany/Hertha BSC). Washington additionally returns junior Belgian worldwide defender/midfielder Enora Matté, who is ready to renew motion after tearing her ACL throughout Big Ten play in 2024.

 

YOU CAN FIND ME IN DA CLUB

One of the extra distinctive paths to the Husky roster comes from junior Avery Nguyen, who was supplied a roster spot previous to the beginning of the 2023 season after a trial throughout preseason coaching. A local of the Kansas City metro space and a former standout for Olathe Northwest High School and Sporting Blue Valley, Nguyen led the UW membership group in scoring as a university freshman in 2022.

 

Now a senior, Nguyen has greater than earned her spot, showing in 13 matches during the last two seasons, together with a pair of begins in 2023.

 

COMING TO A TUBE NEAR YOU!

Washington will play three nationally televised video games on the Big Ten Network. The Huskies would be the first opponent featured in entrance of a nationwide reside viewers for No. 5 USC on the newly constructed Rawlinson Stadium on Sept. 11. UW will then play back-to-back house matches on the Big Ten Network, internet hosting Minnesota and Wisconsin on Oct. 16 and 19, respectively.

 

VEGAS BORN, SEATTLE PROUD

Hailing from the Las Vegas desert, Washington sophomore Andrea Leyva and her brother, Seattle Sounders midfielder Danny Leyva now name the Evergreen State house. Andrea appeared in 16 matches with 10 begins for UW as a freshman and was ranked as a 4 star recruit and the No. 39 prospect within the nation by TopDrawerSoccer. Meanwhile, Danny has performed in 69 matches for Seattle’s MLS membership, turning into the third youngest participant in league historical past after approaching as a late substitute within the Sounders’ away loss to the Montreal Impact.

 

For extra data on Husky Women’s Soccer, observe @UW_WSoccer on Twitter and Instagram.