ELLENSBURG, Wash. (Sept. 3) – The Central Washington University soccer team fell in its season opener to Sonoma State University, 2-0.   The Wildcats are now 0-1 on the season, while Sonoma moves to 1-0.
 
The Wildcats and Seawolves were deadlocked in the first half.  Sonoma shot eight times in the first 45 minutes, while CWU fired toward cage three times.  The Wildcats took a 2-1 advantage into the second half in corner kicks awarded.
 
"In the first half we kept ourselves in the game and didn't give up anything," head coach Michael Farrand said afterward.  "In the second half we really let them get onto us and we gave away some balls. "
 
The Seawolves struck early in the second half.  Margi Osmundson took possession in Sonoma's offensive third and played a ball into the middle of the pitch for Katie Mohr.  Mohr fired from 25 metres and beat Central Washington keeper Amanda White for the first goal of the game, giving Sonoma a 1-0 lead.
 
In the 69^th minute, Sonoma found the back of the cage again.  The Wildcats conceded a corner following a save by White.  Marissa Marable took the corner for the Seawolves and played it short to Osmundson who gave it back on the first touch.  Marable played a cross into the box that found the head of Carolyn Greco to give the Seawolves a 2-0 advantage.
 
"On the set piece, it's a bit of a tricky set piece, and we've talked about that," Farrand said.  "We weren't able to connect on that.  We lost the matchup and let her get in.  We can't let people get inside on set pieces."
 
The Wildcats would not go quietly.  Mackenzie Nolte found space in between a pair of Seawolves defenders in the 74^th minute and found herself one-on-one with Sonoma keeper Ashley Luis.  Nolte's shot looked to find space off of Luis' right leg, but Luis was able to get a boot on it and preserve the 2-0 lead.  The rebound generated a chance for Keilin Farrand, who took a chance on frame, but her shot went high.
 
Later, in the 86^th minute, Luis turned away another shot by Nolte and Allie Bohnett gathered the rebound.  Bohnett put a shot toward frame, but it whistled just high of the crossbar.
 
"Our player of the match was Allie Bohnett," Farrand added.  "In the last 20 minutes we got her forward and had her serve balls earlier into the middle.  She had a solid game and had some good attacking runs in the second half."
 
The Wildcats final chance came in the 90^th minute on a corner kick taken by Farrand, but the Seawolves were able to discontinue the attack.
                                                                                                                
"For the first 20 minutes in the second half we were struggling and we slowly fought our way back to who we are," Farrand said of the Wildcats' second half.  "We had some opportunities where we got in and got around, we just didn't find a way to finish.  I thought we were a little more than average, but I don't think we are Central soccer yet."
 
Sonoma finished the game with 18 shots, eight of which were on goal.  Luis earned her first clean sheet for the Seawolves with four saves.
 
White made six saves for the Wildcats with five coming in the second half.  Central Washington finished with nine shots with four on goal.
 
Each team was awarded four corner kicks.
 
Central Washington will be back on the pitch Saturday, Sept. 5, as they take on San Francisco State.  Kickoff is scheduled for 12 p.m.