ELLENSBURG, Wash. (Sept. 29) – The Central Washington University soccer team will play a pair of Great Northwest Athletic Conference matches this week. The first is at home in Ellensburg against Northwest Nazarene University. The Wildcats will then go on the road against Western Oregon University.
Northwest Nazarene will enter Thursday's contest with a 4-3-1 record overall and a 1-1-1 mark in GNAC matches. The Crusaders are currently fifth in the conference table with four points. They are coming off a 2-2 draw against Western Oregon. Prior to that match, the Crusaders picked up a 1-0 win over Seattle Pacific.
Nicole Nsa has notched four goals and two assists for NNU. She also captured GNAC Offensive Player of the Week honors on Sept. 21. Nsa has put 12 of her 16 shots on net in 490 minutes. Lexi Fesenbek has added three goals and three assists, for nine total points, on twelve shots. Kelsey Martin has recorded three goals on six shots.
Daniele Ortiz has played 748:28 in net for Northwest Nazarene this season. She has only allowed 10 goals and has turned away 55 shots. In total, the Sunnyvale, Calif. native has faced 135 shots and compiled four clean sheets.
Central Washington boasts a 26-8-4 record against Northwest Nazarene. The Wildcats took both matches during the 2014 season. Central Washington took a 3-2 double overtime victory in Nampa, Idaho, before picking up a 2-0 win at home.
The Wildcats are 17-1-1 in Ellensburg and have not lost on their home pitch to the Crusaders since 2001.
"It's definitely a big week for us in terms of conference play and the ability to get points and move up in standing," CWU Head Coach
Michael Farrand said. "NNU is coming off a big week with a win over SPU and a draw against Western Oregon. It was a good week for them results."
The Western Oregon University Wolves are 0-2-1 in their last three matches. Overall the Wolves are 4-3-1 on the season with a 0-2-1 mark in GNAC play. They currently sit seventh in the conference table after playing to a 2-2 draw against NNU and falling to Montana State University Billings, 2-1.
Vicky Cruz Rosales leads the Wolves with four goals and two assists. She has taken 13 shots, nine of which have been on frame. Makana Pundyke and Allison Sprecher have each added three goals. Western Oregon is outshooting opponents 98-64 and averaging 1.88 goals a game.
Lindsey Mabinuori has seen the majority of the action in net for the Wolves. She has started seven games and compiled 639 minutes of play. She has allowed seven goals and made 26 saves. Mabinuori and Nicole Tejada each have one clean sheet on the season.
Central Washington has posted a 12-15-7 record against Western Oregon throughout history. Central Washington and Western Oregon played to a pair of 0-0 draws last season. The Wildcats last recorded a win over the Wolves on Oct. 18, 2012 with a 2-1 score in Ellensburg.
"We have had good battles with Western Oregon every year," Farrand said. "Games are always physical and tough games to play. In a week where we need to make some progress going forward we will have a tough battle."
After a rocky start to conference play, the Wildcats look to nab their first conference win. With a 2-5-0 record overall and a record of 0-2-0 in GNAC play, the Wildcats are eighth in the conference table.
Whitney Lowe leads the Wildcats with two goals on eight shots.
Reilly Retz has notched a goal and an assist.
Mackenzie Nolte has recorded a team high three assists. Nolte also leads the Wildcats with 14 shots.
Amanda White has recorded one clean sheet in net for the Wildcats. She has started and finished every game this season for CWU. In 630 minutes she has made 42 saves, while allowing just 11 goals.
"We are excited to open our conference play at home with the students back on campus," Farrand added. "We are excited to see a great crowd on Thursday."
Kickoff on Thursday (Oct. 1) in Ellensburg is scheduled for 3 p.m. against Northwest Nazarene University. The first 100 fans will be treated to Doughnuts and Drinks.
