Pullman 2, North Central 1
Greyhounds Open Season with 2–1 League Win at North Central
The Pullman Greyhounds opened the 2026 season Thursday night with a 2–1 road win over the North Central Wolfpack at One Stadium in Spokane, collecting three important league points to start the year.
North Central had already played once earlier in the week, falling to Kamiakin 3-1 on Tuesday, so they entered the match with a bit more game rhythm. Pullman, on the other hand, stepped into its first real test of the season still learning how the pieces fit together. Early season games are always a little messy, but they’re also where teams begin to discover who they are.
Pullman struck first in the 18th minute when Owen Shulenberger finished low into the right corner from outside the box after a setup from Matteo Rehwaldt, giving the Greyhounds a 1–0 lead.
North Central responded twenty minutes later when Kayden Chau capitalized on a broken defensive sequence and hit from just outside the 18 to level the match at 1–1 in the 38th minute.
The Greyhounds didn’t take long to answer. Just two minutes later, Shulenberger delivered again—this time from distance—driving a shot from nearly 30 yards that dipped just under the crossbar to restore Pullman’s lead before halftime.
From there, the second half became more about management of the game.
Pullman controlled much of the run of play, finishing with 60% possession and 242 completed passes, while generating 14 shots to North Central’s three and earning eight corner kicks while not conceding a single corner. The Greyhounds also created consistent pressure in advanced areas, with 26% of their possession coming in the attacking third, an encouraging sign for a team still working through its early-season attacking rhythm.
North Central goalkeeper play kept the match tight, recording 12 saves to keep the Wolfpack within striking distance. Fernando Guzman’s work in goal was steady when called upon as well; he finished with two saves.
What stood out most for Pullman was the defensive organization. Moving four-year starter, senior Nick Neville, from centerback to holding-mid proved effective as he was able to diffuse most of the Wolfpack’s attack. Senior Brigham Cordova was outstanding at centrerback at Neville’s previous spot. North Central struggled to generate sustained attacking sequences, and the Greyhounds limited clear opportunities while managing the tempo of the game.
Opening matches are rarely polished, but this one showed promising signs. The ball movement was solid, the team controlled possession, and the group showed resilience by responding immediately after conceding.
More importantly, Pullman walked away with the most important number in league play: three points. It’s only the first step in a long season, but it was a good one.