NAMPA, Idaho (Oct. 17) – Mackenzie Nolte lifted the Central Washington University soccer team to a 2-1 overtime victory against Northwest Nazarene University.  The Wildcats are now 5-8-0 on the season and 3-5-0 in Great Northwest Athletic Conference play. 
 
Nolte's goal came just 34 seconds into overtime.  Lauren Duty sent a cross from the right wing that Nolte chested down and sent off the right post before the ball settled into the back of the net. 
 
"We went into overtime knowing that we needed to finish the game," Nolte stated afterward.  "We knew that we were going to do whatever it took.  Lauren [Duty] was able to gain the corner off of Shaina's [Mitchell] throw and I took off toward the near post.  I just wanted to get a body on it.  It was mostly Lauren's work; I just finished it off." 

The Wildcats dominated play in the first half.  In the first 20 minutes of play, CWU generated three corners and took three shots. 
 
"It was a tough game for us," CWU Head Coach Michael Farrand noted.  "We had a lot of chances that we didn't finish.  NNU's goal was one of the best goals scored against us this year.  We dominated a lot of the game; we outshot them in both halves and generated six corners in the first half, but couldn't make it work for us.  We couldn't create those chances on top of the goal. "
 
Central finished the first half with 14 shots and allowed just three.
 
The Crusaders found the scoreboard in the 32^nd minute.  Lexi Fesenbek took a cross from Hannah Holm on the left wing and slid it past CWU keeper Sydney Williams, giving NNU a 1-0 lead going into halftime.
 
"NNU has done a great job," M. Farrand added afterward.  "Mary [Trigg] has done a great job with her girls. They've battled every game this year."
 
Central Washington controlled play again in the second half.  The Wildcats fired off 16 shots and allowed just five in the second 45 minutes.
 
After a barrage of shots starting in the 69^th minute, the Wildcats found the equalizer in the 81^st.
 
Manning took a pass from Nolte on the left side and beat NNU keeper Danielle Ortiz, leveling the score at 1-1.
 
Ortiz kept the Crusaders alive in the waning minutes, as Cassie Ripley, Keilin Farrand, and Manning all had shots turned aside by the Crusaders' keeper.

"We had to come in and get three points," M. Farrand acknowledged.  "It was a great effort by the backline to keep us in the game.  We come home now for three straight games and a chance to get some much needed points."
 
Nolte led the Wildcats with seven shots, three of which were on goal.  She recorded a goal and an assist. 
 
Whitney Lowe took five shots, while Ripley and Manning each took four.  Central finished with a season high 31 shots. The Wildcats' shot total is the most they've taken in a single game since 2010, also against NNU.
 
The Wildcats have three consecutive games at home, a chance to gain valuable points in the GNAC standings.
 
They will first take on Seattle Pacific on Thursday (Oct. 22) at 3 p.m.