WILDCATS CLAIM HOME OPENER, 2-1, OVER SIMON FRASER
Cornier, Carie Score as Central Defeats Clan in First Home Contest

ELLENSBURG (Sept. 13) -- Junior Gwenna Carie (Leavenworth/Cascade HS) scored the game-winning goal at the 67th minute, helping the Central Washington women's soccer team defeat visiting Simon Fraser, 2-1, in its 2009 home opener on Sunday afternoon at a sun-splashed CWU Soccer Field.

With the win, the Wildcats finished the non-conference portion of their schedule with a 3-4-0 record. Simon Fraser, ranked 10th in the NAIA, suffered just its second loss of the season to fall to 4-2-0.

Carie fired a hard shot at the goal just after the 66-minute mark, a ball that Simon Fraser goalkeeper Lesley McDonnell mishandled and eventually carried over the goal line. The misplay was ruled as a goal for Carie, which gave the Wildcats a 2-1 lead and was the second goal of the season for the junior midfielder.

Central took a 1-0 lead in the first half at the 29th minute when senior Monique Cornier (Puyallup/Emerald Ridge HS) cleaned up another mishandled ball by McDonnell in front of the net. That margin stood up until the 63rd minute, when Simon Fraser's Chanelle Bradshaw tied the score with an unassisted goal.

"We played well for about 70 minutes," said CWU head coach Michael Farrand. "We had some moments where our defense was soft, but we were able to get some lucky bounces (for the goals) and we were able to squeeze for the final five minutes to preserve the win."

Each team had five shot attempts in the first half before the visiting Clan finished with a 12-10 shooting advantage. Central's Amber Easterbrook (Kent/Kentwood HS) had four saves in goal, including the stop of a penalty kick by Simon Fraser's Ari Adams at the 17th minute.

Carie led all players with four total shot attempts, including two on goal, as each team finished with five shots on goal.

Central Washington will open Great Northwest Athletic Conference play this Thursday (Sept. 17) with its second straight home match. The Wildcats take on Montana State Billings (3-2-1) at the CWU Soccer Field beginning at 4 p.m. Pacific before visiting rival Western Washington (currently 2-2-1, 1-0-0 GNAC) on Saturday (Sept. 19) in Bellingham.

BOX SCORE:
Central Washington 2, Simon Fraser 1