Box Score

ELLENSBURG (Oct. 2) -- The Central Washington University women's soccer team played virtually even with Western Washington University in the first half, but two goals in the first eight minutes of the second period helped the visiting Vikings take a 3-0 win over the Wildcats on Saturday afternoon.

The Wildcats, now 3-6-1 overall and 3-3-0 in Great Northwest Athletic Conference play, saw a three-match win streak snapped with Saturday's defeat. Western maintained its place atop the GNAC standings at 5-1-0 and 8-1-1 overall.

Central, which was coming off a 2-1 come-from-behind home win over Simon Fraser on Thursday afternoon, kept right with Western in the first half. The Wildcats had just one fewer shot than the Vikings (8-7) in the period, including a 2-0 edge in shots on goal, with junior Amy Pate (Federal Way/Thomas Jefferson HS) having shots at the fifth and 23rd minutes saved by WWU goalkeeper Jamie Arthurs.

The second half was a stark contrast to the first, as Western Washington took four shots in the first 7:27 of the period and found the net twice -- both times by Claire Morgan. Morgan scored on the first shot attempt of the second half off a free kick from 30 yards out at the 49th minute, and then tallied the Vikings' second goal directly into the net off a corner kick at the 53rd minute.

Meanwhile, Central's offense was virtually dormant for the first 25 minutes of the second half. After senior Kaycie Hutchins' (Port Orchard/Bellarmine Prep) shot on goal immediately following the second WWU tally, Central didn't have another shot attempt until the 72nd minute when junior Miranda Heslep's (Bellingham/Meridian HS) header was stopped by Arthurs. The Wildcats would follow up with two more shot attempts in the next three minutes, but they were never able to find the goal.

Western added an insurance tally at the 81st minute, as Kristin Maris took a lead pass from Morgan, advanced along the left side of the field, and then beat CWU freshman keeper Kori Butterfield (Duvall/Cedarcrest HS) with a low-to-the-ground shot that caromed off the inside of the post.

For the game, Central was outshot by a 23-13 count including 15-6 in the second half. Butterfield (3-4-1) made five saves -- all in the second half -- and the Wildcats also had a team save in the final stanza.

Arthurs recorded her seventh shutout of the season for the Vikings, making five saves.

Offensively, Central saw four of its starters record multiple shot attempts. Hutchins had four total shots, followed by two each from Pate, junior Brittany Franks (Yakima/West Valley HS), and senior Ellie Eckroth (Auburn/Auburn Mountainview HS).

Western had seven shots apiece from Maris and Morgan, while Justina MacDowell and Joana Houplin added three each.

Central Washington will have just one match next week, hosting nationally-ranked Seattle Pacific University on Saturday morning (Oct. 9) at 11 a.m.