Box Score

ELLENSBURG (Sept. 22) -- Central Washington University sophomore Nicole Laughlin (Gig Harbor) scored the game-winning goal in the 83rd minute, propelling the Wildcat women's soccer team to a 2-1 victory over Western Oregon University on Thursday afternoon at the CWU Soccer Field.

The win moves Central to 3-2-2 on the season and 2-1-0 in the Great Northwest Athletic Conference. Western Oregon falls to 2-3-2, 1-1-1 in GNAC.

Laughlin took a pass from senior Alex Jensen (Yakima/West Valley HS) and scored the go-ahead tally from 22 yards out. Laughlin's goal came just 73 seconds after Wolves midfielder Lindsay Bauman scored an equalizing goal in the 82nd minute, when she floated a shot over the head of Wildcat sophomore goalkeeper Kori Butterfield (Duvall/Cedarcrest HS).

Senior Amy Pate (Federal Way/Thomas Jefferson HS) scored the Wildcats' first goal in the 22nd minute thanks to nifty passing from teammates Carson McKole (Oak Harbor) and Savanna Moorehouse (Bonney Lake). McKole found Moorehouse, who headed the ball to Pate on the left side of the goal and the senior found the right side of the net to give CWU a 1-0 advantage.

“The combinations of passes from Carson and Savanna on Pate's goal were fantastic,” CWU head coach Michael Farrand said. “It was one of the best goals we've had all year.”

Although Butterfield was the goalkeeper of record, freshman Kayla Lipston (Federal Way/Decatur HS) made her first career start, playing the first 68 minutes and gathering seven saves. Butterfield had four saves over the final 22 minutes.

Western Oregon had an advantage in most statistical categories, outshooting the Wildcats 30-14 and taking a 6-2 advantage in corner kicks. In the second half alone, the Wolves outshot Central 20-7.

“We kind of faded out in the second half,” Farrand added, “but they grinded it out and responded well to earn the win.”

Next, the Wildcats travel to Lacey on Sunday (Sept. 25) to play Saint Martin's University at 2 p.m. They will then have five straight home games, starting with a match-up against Northwest Nazarene University next Thursday (Sept. 29) at 4 p.m.