Box Score

ELLENSBURG (Oct. 1) -- Central Washington University senior Amy Pate (Federal Way/Thomas Jefferson HS) scored an equalizing goal in the 89th minute, helping the women's soccer team to a 1-1 tie against Montana State University Billings on Saturday afternoon.

The tie, coupled with a Seattle Pacific win on Saturday, drops the Wildcats to third place in the Great Northwest Athletic Conference standings at 4-1-1 record and 5-2-3 overall. MSU Billings takes sole possession of second place in the conference with a 4-0-2 record, 7-1-2 overall. 

The first half ended in a 0-0 stalemate with MSUB taking a 7-6 advantage in shots. The Wildcats nearly scored in the opening minute as senior Brittany Franks' (Yakima/West Valley HS) shot hit the right goal post and nearly ricocheted into the net. 

Montana State Billings took the second half kickoff and 20 seconds later, Jaucelyn Richter scored her sixth goal of the season to give the Yellowjackets a 1-0 lead. 

The Central Washington offense rallied late in the half, ripping off four shots in a four minute and 25 second span, with the final shot resulting in a goal. Senior Miranda Heslep (Bellingham/Meridian HS) sent a corner kick in front of the MSUB goal, where freshman Sydney Coleman (Auburn/Auburn Mountainview HS) headed the ball towards Pate, who scored from three yards out to tie the match a 1-1 with just 93 seconds left in regulation.

Junior Carson McKole (Oak Harbor), the Wildcats' leading scorer, was removed from the contest with just under four minutes to play in the second overtime due to a red card violation, leaving the Wildcats with just ten players.  Nearly two minutes later, the Yellowjackets appeared to have scored a game-winning goal, but they were called for an offside violation with just over two minutes remaining.

Central Washington sophomore goalkeeper Kori Butterfield (Duvall/Cedarcrest HS) recorded two of her career-high 11 saves in the overtime periods to help ensure the tie. The 11 saves were the most by a CWU goalie since former Wildcat Amber Easterbrook had 12 in 2008.

Montana State Billings took a narrow 18-16 advantage in shots. Of the 18 Yellowjacket shots, 12 were on goal, while the Wildcats had just three on frame.

Central will next have an opportunity to climb the GNAC ladder as they host conference leader Seattle Pacific on Friday (Oct. 7) at 4 p.m. on the CWU Soccer Field.