ELLENSBURG, Wash. (Oct. 28)– The Central Washington University soccer team's season winds down to its final two matches of the season this week.
 
A 1-1 draw and a 5-2 victory last week keeps the Wildcats in the playoff hunt in the Great Northwest Athletic Conference. 
 
"We have been chasing points since last week," CWU Head Coach Michael Farrand said.  "Starting down at NNU and grinding it out to pick up points against SPU and the redemption game against Simon Fraser.  The game up there is still haunting us.  It doesn't really matter unless we win on Thursday.  It represents a really really big test for us.  It's what we have been focusing on training." 
 
The Wildcats have to get through the Cavaliers, who currently sit in the second spot in the GNAC. 
 
"We have scored a lot of goals in the second half of the season and we want to continue to build on that and play attacking soccer," M. Farrand added.  "Get after Concordia early, build momentum and hold it. Then see what Saturday brings us."
 
Central Washington's hot offense will have to take on a defense that has only given up eight goals on the season.  Concordia is 11-2-2 overall and 8-1-1 in its first year in the GNAC, including a 2-0 victory over CWU in Portland, Oregon.
 
"We had a decent game down at Concordia we kind of fell apart in the middle and it hurt us," M. Farrand noted.  "We are a little more efficient in what we are doing right now."
 
The Wildcats have scored 11 goals in their past five games, with a record of 3-1-1.
 
 "Whitney Lowe is, I think, the most dangerous person in the GANC right now," M. Farrand acknowledged.  "Mack [Nolte] can present some problems in matchups with her speed.  Cassie [Ripley] has been effective up top for us. We are really playing well through the middle right now with Keilin [Farrand] and Reilly [Retz].  I think that is the key for us in how much we connect with them so they can send the ball up top to Whit, Mack, and Cass."
 
The Wildcats' forwards and midfielders have been firing on all cylinders.  Reilly Retz has scored in consecutive games.  Keilin Farrand recorded two assists in the last match against SFU.  Lowe registered a goal and a pair of helpers, and Mackenzie Nolte continues to find timely goals for Central Washington.
 
A win Thursday keeps the Wildcats in the hunt when they to Billings, Montana.  
 
"It is always important to finish with a win, in terms of the message you are sending at the end of the year," M. Farrand said.  "This year we will be on a plane, after being on a bus last year.  The length of the trip will be a bit shorter."  

Central will fly into Billings and take on the 7-6-2 Yellowjackets.  With a 5-5-1 record in GNAC play, MSU-B has just one game remaining on its schedule.
 
"Billings is hard to play away," M. Farrand noted.  "Wojtek [Krakowiak] has done a great job and they have a great home record."
 
The Yellowjackets have posted a 4-1-1 home record under Krakowiak this season.
 
"It's up to us in terms of what happens next," M. Farrand acknowledged.  "We are more then capable but, until you prove it, it doesn't matter.  We will take care of Thursday then worry about Saturday."
 
Kickoff is scheduled for 3 p.m. on Thursday at the CWU Soccer Complex.  Saturday, the match will start at 11 a.m. PDT and live stats are available, here.