Women's Soccer | 12/5/2016 3:07:00 PM

ELLENSBURG, Wash. (Dec. 5) – A program record 13 regular season wins, the first-ever NCAA postseason berth, and the program's first NCAA postseason win.  The 2016 campaign was a storybook season for the Central Washington University women's soccer team, both on and off the pitch.
 
"I think for us as a program and for all of our past players, finally getting to a point where you are competing regionally and making the NCAA's is a great accomplishment as a program," CWU Head Coach Michael Farrand said.  "It's a great moment for us as a program for our alumni and our seniors."
 
The Wildcats stormed out to a program best 5-0-0 start, including a win over No. 25 Sonoma State and four consecutive wins away from the friendly confines of the CWU Soccer Complex.  Central finished the year with a 6-3-0 record on the road and a 5-2-1 mark at home.
 
After a 0-2 loss to Simon Fraser in their opening GNAC contest, the Wildcats tore through GNAC opponents in a 7-0-1 stretch. 
 
The Wildcats clinched a GNAC tournament berth, after narrowly missing in 2015, and then earned the program's first trip to the NCAA postseason.
 
Facing an opponent they had already faced a trio of times, to a tune of a 1-1-1 record, the Wildcats recorded a 2-1 win with a pair of goals from Whitney Lowe.
 
"I think if you look at any team that hasn't been here that first game you win as a program is huge for confidence and what happens next," Farrand said afterward.  "We scored two big goals against SPU and it's a huge accomplishment for our program and girls."
 
It wasn't only the wins that piled up for the Wildcats in 2016.  In all but one game throughout the season, Farrand used his entire compliment of outfield players.  It resulted in 14 different goal scorers, including six players with more than one goal.
 
"We built our roster on being able to play everybody," Farrand noted.  "Offensively we are interchangeable and it expresses the creativity of how we play.  You get that by looking at all the different goal scorers and you seeing all the different goals we create and the different ways we score."
 
The offense, led by senior Keilin Farrand and junior Mackenzie Nolte, tallied 33 times throughout the season.
 
The Wildcats' offensive prowess led to the program's first-ever CoSIDA Academic All-District player in Farrand and two All-West Region Second Team and GNAC First Team honors from Farrand and Nolte.
 
Farrand scored five goals, and dished out six assists, for 16 points during her senior campaign.  She finished the year tied for the team lead in points, while finishing seventh in the GNAC.  She finished second in the GNAC in assists.  Nolte led the Wildcats with seven goals.  She added two assists to tie for the team lead in points with 16.  Nolte finished the year tied for fifth in the GNAC in goals.
 
Lowe's play also garnered accolades.  The junior midfielder was named to the GNAC Honorable Mention squad, as well as the NSCAA West Region Third Team.
 
The Wildcats' backline was not without recognition. 
 
"Defensively we were in a great situation," Farrand acknowledged.  "We returned the entire back line and for Emily that's the perfect scenario for her as a freshman.  the back line was fantastic.  We played the number one team in the country twice and gave up some goals.  Haga in the beginning of the year was fantastic.  But you look at how Abbie, Meghan, and Allie played and the chances they created, they were fantastic all year."
 
Central's defense held opponents to just over one goal a game.  Allie Bohnett earned NSCAA West Region Second Team honors, D2CCA All-West Region Second Team honors, and GNAC First Team honors for her play on the back line.  She tallied the most minutes amongst outfield players (1,758), scored a goal, and dished out four assists. 
 
Jessica Haga and Abbie Litka each earned GNAC honorable mention.
 
Freshman goalkeeper Emily Holt recorded a .788 save percentage, goals against average of 1.10, and six clean sheets.
 
"You look at the awards and honors that we have been fortunate enough to earn," Farrand said.  "It recognizes the talents and hard work of those girls.  I think it is well overdue for some of the players, but we are grateful for the recognition we received.  We have to be humble though, because it is a group effort and a team effort."
 
Despite losing six seniors the Wildcats look to return the high-caliber play fans witnessed in 2016.
 
"We lose a significant part of who we are this year, but that allows us to grow next year," Farrand noted. "We played our roster out all year, so we return a lot of girls that have NCAA experience.  It is time for our 2017 class to step up."
 
"We couldn't have done it without the support of our athletic administration, President Gaudino, our alumni, and the entire CWU fan base," Farrand acknowledged.  "We are truly grateful for their support and we hope to build off of this great season."
 
2016 Season Honors

CoSIDA Academic All-District
Keilin Farrand (first in program history)
 
GNAC First Team All-Conference
Allie Bohnett
Keilin Farrand
Mackenzie Nolte
 
GNAC Honorable Mention
Jessica Haga
Abbie Litka
Whitney Lowe
 
GNAC Academic All-Conference- Allie Bohnett, Keilin Farrand, Karlee Goehner, Jessica Haga, Abbie Litka, Whitney Lowe, Bailey Martoncik, Shaina Mitchell, Mackenzie Nolte, Kennedy Anson, Lexsi Manning, Michaela Wallace, Reilly Retz, Meghan Ward
 
D2CCA West Region Second Team
Allie Bohnett
Keilin Farrand
Mackenzie Nolte
 
NSCAA West Region Second Team
Allie Bohnett
Keilin Farrand
Mackenzie Nolte
 
NSCAA West Region Third Team
Whitney Lowe
 
1^st Ever NCAA Postseason Appearance
1^st NCAA Postseason win (2-1 W over SPU)
Single-Season Wins Record (13)