Box Score

ELLENSBURG (Sept. 23) -- Junior Serena Tomaso (Enumclaw) scored her first goal of the season and added two assists as the Central Washington University women's soccer team earned its first win of the season, defeating Western Oregon University, 3-0, on Thursday afternoon.

Tomaso gave the Wildcats (1-5-1, 1-2-0 Great Northwest Athletic Conference) an early first half lead scoring off the rebound of junior Amy Pate's (Federal Way/Thomas Jefferson HS) shot on goal at the 15:04 mark. Pate's shot was blocked by the Wolves goalie Brittney Rigtrup and Tomaso gathered the deflected ball three yards in front of the empty net and scored her first goal of the season to give the Wildcats a 1-0 lead.

Just 7:15 later Tomaso sent the ball through multiple WOU defenders to senior Ellie Eckroth (Auburn/Auburn Mountainview HS), who scored from 35 yards out to give the Wildcats a 2-0 lead going into halftime.

Statistically, the Wildcats dominated the first half as they outshot the Wolves 14-1 with eight shots on goal, and had a corner kick advantage of 6-0.

“We played very well in the first half,” said CWU head coach Michael Farrand. “We played a very solid and wide-open game and created a lot of chances, and that's what Central soccer is all about.”

Western Oregon (1-6-0, 0-3-0 GNAC) controlled the ball for the majority of the second half outshooting the Wildcats 12-7, but freshman goalkeeper Kori Butterfield (Duvall/Cedarcrest) held the Wolves in check to earn her first career win and her first shutout. Butterfield finished the game with a career-high five saves.

Central's final tally came late in the second half as Pate took a pass from Tomaso and broke away from the Western Oregon defense for a one-on-one opportunity with the Wolves' Rigtrup. Pate then deked Rigtrup and scored an uncontested tally from 10 yards out, providing the Wildcats with a commanding 3-0 advantage.

Pate's goal was her first on the season, and the first second-half goal scored by Central this season. Pate now has seven career goals, four of which have come against the Wolves.

“Pate's goal was well-deserved," said Farrand. “She has played well for us all season long and it was nice to see her get rewarded for her efforts.”

Central next travels to Lacey this Saturday (Sept. 25) to faceoff with Saint Martin's University at 3:30 p.m. The Wildcats return home next Thursday (Sept. 30) to face Simon Fraser.