Women's soccer kicks off WSU's fall sports season

In six days, the Washington State football team will face Rutgers in the season opener. You don't have to wait that long to cheer on a Cougar team in an actual contest, however, with the WSU women's soccer team set to open its season on Friday against TCU.

The game -- which will begin at 5 p.m. PT and be broadcast on the Pac-12 Network -- will be the first played in the recently renovated Lower Soccer Field. It is also the first fall sporting event for Washington State. The football, volleyball and cross country teams will begin their seasons next week. To add the list of firsts, the contest on Friday will be the first for new head coach Steve Nugent. He replaces Keidane McAlpine who left for USC.

Actual sports are about to begin.

Football:

There was some interesting news out of fall camp practice on Thursday with the word Gabe Marks could redshirt this season. As Jacob Thorpe of the Spokesman Review noted, Marks missed considerable time during the spring and in fall camp. He missed some time in camp following a big hit during practice. He returned since, getting some work with the scout team. Injury isn't the only factor. Isiah Myers and Kristoff Williams have both had strong offseasons and positioned themselves for playing time at Z receiver. Both are seniors and the idea of two more years of Marks is an enticing one. Mike Leach didn't say much definitively, via Jacob:

"Well we'll just look at it and see how it goes," Leach said. "It's a possibility but nothing's been decided on it."

Gabe Marks could redshirt - SportsLink - Spokesman.com - Aug. 21, 2014
Because practice was only about an hour, there isn't much of a report to pass along. There is some news, however, as coach Mike Leach acknowledged after practice that receiver Gabe Marks could potentially redshirt this season.

Director of Athletics Bill Moos Podcast - Washington State University Official Athletic Site
During his latest podcast, conducted Thursday morning, Director of Athletics Bill Moos looks ahead to Friday’s Cougar soccer match vs. TCU, marking the beginning of the 2014-15 Cougar Athletics season.

WSU football: Washington State aims to surprise the Pac-12 - Pacific Takes
Coming of their best season in a decade, the Washington State Cougars are looking ahead to a big year. In 2013 they went to a bowl game for the first time in 10 long years. The Cougars lost the New Mexico Bowl, but this year the team is looking to improve on that record by going to a bigger bowl and winning it.

Cougars assistant Salave’a spurned USC to stay with his players | Cougar Football | The Seattle Times
Little did Washington State football fans realize that in the bleakness of a losing finish in the New Mexico Bowl last December, a shaft of sunlight had bathed the program, even if hardly anybody knew it.

Soccer:

Soccer Opens WSU Fall Season Hosting TCU - Washington State University Official Athletic Site
Washington State soccer begins its 2014 campaign, Friday, Aug. 22 hosting TCU at renovated Lower Soccer Field…facility underwent a $2.4 million budgeted facelift in the offseason

Nicole Setterlund Among Nation's Best - Washington State University Official Athletic Site
Washington State senior midfielder Nicole Setterlund has been listed as a Top 100 player nationally by TopDrawerSoccer.