Box Score
Photo Gallery

ELLENSBURG (Sept. 8) -- Seniors Carson McKole (Oak Harbor) and Kelsy Villegas (Graham/Graham-Kapowsin HS) each scored late in the second half, helping the Central Washington University women's soccer team defeat visiting Northwest University, 2-0, in its home opener on Saturday evening.

The Wildcats, who improved to 1-2-1 on the season and 3-0-2 in their all-time series with the Eagles (1-5-1), doubled their goal total for the year with their two second-half tallies.

“A lot of the credit (for our win today) goes to our preparation after we were in California,” CWU head coach Michael Farrand explained, referring to his team's 0-2-1 record to begin the season. “We were disheartened about our performance to start the year, so to be able to come back and get a shutout victory against a quality opponent was great for us.”

McKole, a first-team all-conference performer last season, recorded her first goal of the year after lofting a high shot from straight on and about 25 yards away. Jami Marzano (Sammamish/Eastlake HS) was credited with the assist -- the first collegiate point for the sophomore defender.

Villegas, who scored both of the Wildcats' goals during their three-game swing to southern California, added her third goal of the year at the 80th minute to give CWU a cushion. After taking an initial shot that had been blocked, she rebounded that miss and found the back of the net.

“Kelsy has been on a tear,” Farrand said. “She got a good initial shot off, and then did a nice job fighting to get the rebound and put it into the goal.”

The Central Washington offense came to life with a season-high 19 shot attempts, of which 10 were on the goal. However, the goal by McKole did not come until the Wildcats' 14th attempt of the contest, as CWU kept Northwest goalkeeper Mariah O'Brien busy throughout the match.

Villegas' tally came on the team's next-to-last shot of the game with just over 10 minutes remaining.

The starting forward tandem of Villegas and McKole combined for nine shot attempts, while sophomore forward Sydney Coleman (Auburn/Auburn Mountainview HS) added three tries.

Sophomore goalkeeper Kayla Lipston (Federal Way/Decatur HS) made three saves in earning her second shutout of the season.

Defender Stephanie Cummins had two of the seven shot attempts in the game for Northwest.

CWU next plays 14 consecutive Great Northwest Athletic Conference matches, beginning with a return to the road next week. The Wildcats visit Northwest Nazarene University and Montana State University Billings on Thursday (Sept. 13) and Saturday (Sept. 15), respectively, with the team's next home match on Sept. 20 versus Simon Fraser University.