Box Score
BILLINGS, Mont. (Oct. 14) -- The Central Washington University women's soccer team got second-half goals from juniors
Brittany Franks (Yakima/West Valley HS) and
Serena Tomaso (Enumclaw), but the Wildcats were unable to contain Montana State Billings in a 4-2 women's soccer loss to the Yellowjackets on Thursday afternoon.
The Wildcats (3-8-1, 3-5-0 GNAC) have now dropped three straight conference games for the first time in three years. The loss to MSUB also marks the first time Central has been swept by the Yellowjackets in a multiple-game season series since the two teams began playing twice a year in 2007.
Central has given up 12 goals in their last three games, the most goals surrendered by a Wildcat team over that long of a span in five years.
The Yellowjackets got off to a 2-0 lead, scoring goals in the 26th and 41st minutes. Statistically, MSUB dominated the first half outshooting the Wildcats 11-3 with a 2-0 advantage in corner kicks.
The second half witnessed three goals scored in the span of 3:11. Central struck first on a goal by Franks, her third of the season. She took a cross from Tomaso and shot from the left side and hit the upper right side of the goal.
"We did a good job in the second half to get back in the game," said CWU head coach
Michael Farrand. "But early, we made it look easy."
MSU Billings answered back one minute and 27 seconds later on a Wildcat defensive miscue inside the 18 to give the Yellowjackets a 3-1 advantage. Less than two minutes later, Central scored again as Franks returned the favor, passing to Tomaso as she scored her team-leading fifth goal of the season, to close the margin to 3-2.
MSUB later added an insurance goal in the 71st minute for the final 4-2 margin.
The Wildcats were much more aggressive in the second half, outshooting MSUB 9-4 in the period but were outshot 15-12 for the game.
Central Washington will return to action this Saturday (Oct. 16) against Northwest Nazarene at 11 a.m. at the CWU Soccer Field. Although it's the next-to-last home game of the season, Saturday will also be Senior Day and the Wildcats will honor their seniors prior to kickoff.
