Box Score

ELLENSBURG (Sept. 30) -- Junior Brittany Franks (Yakima/West Valley HS) scored the game-winning goal with 2:09 remaining in regulation, helping the Central Washington University women's soccer team rally for a 2-1 victory over visiting Simon Fraser University on Thursday afternoon.

The Wildcats earned their third straight victory to improve to 3-5-1 overall and 3-2-0 in the Great Northwest Athletic Conference. Simon Fraser, a provisional member of the NCAA Division II and GNAC and currently the 19th-ranked team in the NAIA, fell to 4-3-0 overall and 3-2-0 in the conference.

Franks headed in a pass from junior Serena Tomaso (Enumclaw) at the 88th minute to cap a late-game scoring flurry that saw Central rally from a 1-0 deficit. Less than five minutes earlier, the Wildcats tied the game on the third goal of the season by senior Kaycie Hutchins (Port Orchard/Bellarmine Prep), who took advantage of a poor clearing pass by SFU and ricocheted her shot off both posts.

Simon Fraser scored the game's first tally just 11:10 into the contest, as Lia Marining scored off a cross from Lauren Lachlan. The Clan appeared to have the game in hand until Central's late charge that resulted in the Wildcats tying, and then winning, the contest.

CWU freshman goalkeeper Kori Butterfield (Duvall/Cedarcrest HS) had a busy first half in goal, making five of her six saves in the opening stanza. The Wildcats held Simon Fraser to just two shot attempts -- including one on goal -- in the second half en route to a 14-9 shot advantage for the game.

Central Washington will have another tough challenge ahead this Saturday as the Wildcats host rival Western Washington University at noon at the CWU Soccer Field.