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TUKWILA (Nov. 7) -- Freshman MEGHAN WARD (Chehalis/W.F. West HS) scored her first career goal at the 11th minute, and junior goalkeeper KAYLA LIPSTON (Federal Way/Decatur HS) made eight saves, but the Central Washington University women's soccer team saw its season come to an end with a heartbreaking 2-1 loss to Seattle Pacific University in the semifinal round of the 2013 Great Northwest Athletic Conference Women's Soccer Championship on Thursday evening at Starfire Sports Stadium.

The Wildcats finished with an 11-6-1 overall record and the program's first post-season appearance since 1997. CWU had also been aiming to complete a three-game sweep of its season series with SPU, having won by identical 1-0 scores twice during the regular season.

CWU took a 1-0 lead on Ward's goal at the 10:02 mark, as she lofted a shot from the top of the goal box and into the upper right corner of the goal.

"We had been working on balls away," CWU head coach Michael Farrand explained, "and we got one back to us and Meghan put it on frame for a goal. The first 20 minutes, we were solid together and played pretty well and it was a pretty even game until then."

The Wildcats then kept things close the rest of the half, splitting time between the offensive and defensive ends of the field while keeping the Falcons off the scoreboard. Neither team had much offense the rest of the period, as the two teams combined for just five shots in the opening 45 minutes.

The Wildcats then remained on the defensive to start the second half, as Seattle Pacific had the first 11 shot attempts before CWU got its first attempt. The Falcons broke up the shutout on a penalty kick goal at the 73rd minute after CWU had a foul inside the penalty box. Ashley Shaw converted on the penalty kick for SPU to tie the game at 1-1.

"We started sitting back (in the second half) and were watching the clock a little bit instead of playing. You can't do that against a quality opponent like SPU, and they created their opportunities and got the (penalty kick) goal to tie the game."

The tying goal sparked a brief offensive burst by the Wildcats in the ensuing minutes. Junior SAVANNA MOOREHOUSE (Bonney Lake) had a shot on goal at the 82:04 mark, and sophomore REILLY RETZ (Kent/Kentwood HS) followed with a shot high 16 seconds later, but those were the only shots CWU would have in the second half.

"That goal was good for us because it actually woke up and we created some chances for ourselves offensively over the next ten minutes," Farrand explained. "We played good attacking soccer during that span."

Seattle Pacific then got the game-winning tally on an own goal with 1:51 left in regulation. The Falcons sent in a cross towards the goal that ricocheted off a CWU defender and into the net. The Wildcats were unable to get down the field for a game-tying opportunity as they saw their season come to a close.

After a closely-contested first half, CWU was outshot 14-4 for the game. Seattle Pacific also finished with an 11-1 edge in corner kicks -- including 10-0 in the second half -- and the Wildcats were whistled for 14 fouls to the Falcons' five.

Four individual players had one shot each for the Wildcats, while Shaw led SPU with four shots including three on goal.

Lipston's eight saves were tied for the second-highest total of the season for the junior goalkeeper, who earned second-team all-GNAC honors.

"Kayla did a great job for us all year – a year we would expect to be normal for her," Farrand said. "She came up big with some key stops in the second half, and we could have done a little bit better defensively in front of her. She is a great player and she should be really proud of how she played."

Two CWU seniors -- defenders TARAH DUTY (Black Diamond/Tahoma HS) and MORGAN WOOD (Maple Valley/Tahoma HS) -- played their final collegiate match on Thursday.

"Tarah and Morgan played so well for us on the back line, and the impact of where we were a year ago to where we finished this year, plus two wins over one of your toughest rivals – and these girls should be proud of who they are and what they have accomplished.

"We challenged them to be the greatest team we've ever had, and this is a foundational season for us. I am excited for what the future is and our ability to compete well with the best teams in the conference."