Cuesta Women's Soccer opens Western State Conference play when Los Angeles Pierce come to San Luis Obispo on Friday (4 PM).  The Brahmas are fresh off their 2024 playoff season, but have started the season slowly with a 2-3-1 record. 

The Kickers missed out on its final pre-conference contest, when Skyline cancelled their trip to SLO on Saturday.  The Cougars, who also took a loss at Los Angeles Valley, 3-1, last Tuesday, are still coming together as a team, but will have to learn quickly against a conference that sent four of its seven members to the post-season in 2024.  The Cougars enter Western State Conference play with a 1-4 record, but have come together quickly under first-year Coach Paige Johnson and her staff.  The Cougars' offense has posted a tally in each match, while the defense is coming togehter and even posted a shutout on the road at Lemoore.   Freshmen Forward Derby Coykendall and Midfielder Susana Puentes have stepped up to net six of the Cougars' seven goals on the season, while fellow Midfielder Hailey Westcott has assisted on thre of her teammates scores.  In the nets, the Cougars return Starter Shae Mansfield, who is joined by freshmen Julianna Rosa and Kennedy Lyman to give the Cougars a trio of talented shot-stoppers.  Rosa was also in the nets against Lemoore.   Cuesta, along with new coaching and new recruits, returns five players from 2024, including all-WSC Second Team selections Taylor Lynch and Macy Giubbini.