ELLENSBURG, Wash. (Oct. 24) – A cold, wet day didn't slow down the Central Washington University soccer team's offense in a crucial Great Northwest Athletic Conference match against Simon Fraser University.
The Wildcats offensive outpouring not only gave them a 5-2 victory, but a 5-3 advantage in the aggregate score. With the win CWU is now 6-8-1 overall and 4-5-1 in GNAC matches. Simon Fraser falls to 6-5-2, with a 4-5-1 mark in GNAC play.
"The goal differential is big," CWU Head Coach
Michael Farrand said. "I give credit to the girls, after giving up the first goal they didn't hang their heads. WE got a ton of chances to get back in."
The Wildcats bombarded Simon Fraser's net in the first half, firing off 11 shots, and finding the back of the net three times.
It was SFU's Sierra Leung that opened the scoring, however. She took a pass from Katelyn Erhardsen inside the 18 and beat CWU keeper
Sydney Williams with a low shot, giving the Clan a 1-0 advantage just 1:59 into the match.
Reilly Retz responded in the 15
th minute, redirecting a service from
Meghan Ward past SFU keeper Priya Sandhu to level the score.
"When we are getting in the right places and playing the balls we should we are getting the results we deserve," Farrand said. "I don't think they [Simon Fraser] really had an answer for us offensively."
Retz has scored in the Wildcats' past two matches. She netted the equalizer against Seattle Pacific on Thursday.
"Reilly gets the first goal, Aubrey gets the second, Mack gets the third, and all of a sudden we were rolling," M. Farrand added. I think you could see the intensity from all girls."
Senior defender
Aubrey Rodgers scored her first career goal in the 19
th minute. Rodgers was one of two Wildcat players honored for Senior Day that scored for Central Washington.
Cassie Ripley scored her fifth goal of the season in the 51
st minute.
"Aubrey and Reilly had great shots to put us back in the game," forward
Mackenzie Nolte said afterward. "It was awesome, I'm so happy we pulled through and I think it shows how good of a team we really are."
Nolte added her third goal of the season in the 40
th minute.
"We came into the game knowing we had to win," Nolte said. "We knew we had it in us to do it as a team."
Whitney Lowe picked up her fifth goal of the 2015 campaign in the 80
th minute. Lowe also picked up helpers on goals by Rodgers and Ripley. With her four point effort, Lowe leads the Wildcats with 13 points.
Williams turned away three shots en route to the 5-2 victory.
Keilin Farrand recorded two assists for CWU.
The Wildcats' five goals is the second highest offensive production this season. Central scored six goals at home against NNU.
"We scored five and even left a few goals on the table and it is a great place to be getting ready for the next game," M. Farrand added. We have one chance to get in and its to win. We've played great to get to this point. It is great to see a team effort and a great way to honor the seniors on senior day."
The Wildcats will take on Concordia University on Thursday in Ellensburg.
"As the season has gone on we have worked hard to find what we are capable of," Nolte added. "Going forward we need to put our heads down and play like we know we can. Concordia is a great team, but so are we. We just need to keep our confidence."
Kickoff is scheduled for 3 p.m.
"Thursday we need to come in strong and keep the same offensive strategy, attack the goal," Farrand said. "We got the points we needed and put ourselves in a positing to take a step forward on Thursday."
The Wildcats have just two games remaining on the schedule with their final home game on Thursday against Concordia.
