Rachel Thompson, a 2015 graduate of Nikiski High School, has played a major role in Division I Washington State qualifying for the NCAA Tournament.
The Cougars learned Monday that they had received an at-large bid to the 64-team tournament. They open play at home in Pullman, Washington, at 6 p.m. ADT on Friday against Montana. Washington State finished 12-5-1 overall despite injuries to the starting 11. One of those injuries came to the starting goalkeeper, but Thompson stepped in and went 7-4-1 in net to assure her team would still make the postseason.
