Box Score

ST. GEORGE, Utah (Sept. 11) -- Central Washington University junior Brittany Franks (Yakima/West Valley HS) scored her first goal of the season as the Wildcat women's soccer team held on for a 1-1 tie against 22nd-ranked Mesa State College Saturday afternoon.

With the tie Central moved to 0-2-1 on the season. The tie also snapped a six-game road losing streak by the Wildcats against nationally-ranked opponents dating back to Oct. 7, 2006, when the Wildcats tied 11th-ranked Seattle University 1-1.

"We started well, and played well in the first half," said head coach Michael Farrand. "They pressed us hard and we had a hard time finding our game but we battled back."

Franks' first goal of the year (ninth career) came in the 42nd minute as senior Kaycie Hutchins (Port Orchard/Bellarmine Prep) crossed a pass in from the top side and Franks found the back of the net from 12 yards out. Hutchins, who was the Great Northwest Athletic Conference co-leader in assists last season, earned her first assist of the 2010 season and the 21st of her career.

The Mavericks scored just nine minutes and 14 seconds into the second half as Sophia Whigham caught a free kick rebound right in front of the Wildcat goal and scored to tie the game at 1-1.

Sophomore Carson McKole (Oak Harbor) had a game-high seven shot attempts accounting for more than half the Wildcats' 13 shot attempts, three of which were on goal, but as a team Mesa State outshot Central by one, 14-13.

The Wildcats will stay in St. George, Utah, and continue their five-game road trip as they play Dixie State on Monday, Sept. 13 at 1 p.m. MDT.