Oct. 10, 2000

PULLMAN, Wash. - After a six-game home stand, the Cougars are heading for the desert in search of their first Pac-10 win. At 8-4-0 overall and 0-2-0 in the Pac-10, WSU is hoping for success in Arizona.

The Cougars, ranked 10th in the West Regional Soccer Buzz poll, fell to two nationally top ranked Pac-10 teams last weekend. A 2-1 battle with number 10 California and a 1-0 overtime loss to number 20 Stanford.

WSU has been boosted by the play of its three captains. Senior Deka DeWitt (Auburn, Wash.) is leading the Cougars in scoring (eight goals), and leading the league in shots (73.) DeWitt broke the school record in career assists this season when she picked up her 15th in a 4-2 win over Montana. She needs only 24 shots on goal to tie Kim Lynass' record of 279.

Junior Beth Childs (Snoqualmie, Wash.) has added three goals and five assists to the Cougars efforts, including two game-winners. Childs is the only captain that has started all 12 games for the Cougars this season, as both of her co-captains missed two starts due to injury.

Junior goalkeeper Lindsey Jorgensen (North Bend, Wash.) has been a key in net for the Cougars all season. She has posted one solo shutout and shared one with freshman Sara Leibowitz (Simi Valley, Calif.). Her 12 career shutouts are a school record as are her 300 saves. Jorgensen only needs 82 minutes in goal to tie the career record.

'The returning players are important because they have a reference point that they help provide the new players,' head coach Dan Tobias said in a press conference Tuesday. 'I think the older you get, especially in college sports, the more you feel like the clock is ticking and your time is running out. It's good for the older players to be able to say to the younger people that at any moment this could be your last game, so play every game like it may be your last. That kind of determination on the field, I think in the long run in individual games and during the season, is going to make a big difference for the team.'

This weekend WSU will face Arizona Friday at 7 p.m. PT. Then Sunday at 2 p.m. PT the Cougars will take on Arizona State, who is ranked ninth in the west and received votes in the national poll.