ELLENSBURG, Wash. (Oct. 20) – The Central Washington University soccer team notched its twelfth win of the season with a 2-0 victory over Northwest Nazarene on Senior Day.  The Wildcats are now 12-2-1 overall and 7-1-1 in the Great Northwest Athletic Conference.  The Crusaders fall to 3-11-0 and 1-8-0 in the GNAC.
 
"With NNU we have had some huge battles and drama on their field over the past couple of years," CWU Head Coach Mike Farrand said afterward.  "Mary Trigg has done a great job there and they get the ball in and do things right.  It was tough for us to get in."
 
Prior to kickoff the Wildcats honored their six seniors Allie Bohnett, Kaysha Darcy, Keilin Farrand, Jessica Haga, Reilly Retz, and Meghan Ward.
 
"Reilly is the heart and soul of who we are as a program," Farrand noted as he spoke of his seniors.  "Allie is a fantastic player, probably the best two in the region.  Jessica is the best four or five the region.  Meghan has such heart and physical power.  She plays hard every game.  Kaysha came in and changed programs midway.  She's had two game-winning goals for us this year.  Kei has played a fantastic year in terms of goals and assists and impact for us.
 
 That group as a whole represents not only Central Washington, but who we are as a program.  They continue to prove our program is about who we are together and I think this group represents that."
 
Sunshine broke from the clouds just in time for kickoff on what had been a wet afternoon.  Just as the sun came out to play, so did the Wildcats' offense.
 
Whitney Lowe put a shot on frame just 21 seconds in, but Daniele Ortiz parried the shot.
 
The Wildcats struck first in the 19^th minute.  A corner kick by Farrand generated a header by Molly Mortensen that was blocked by Cassandra Clarke.  Mackenzie Nolte gathered the loose ball and found Bailey Martoncik, who beat Ortiz low and gave the Wildcats a 1-0 lead.
 
Northwest Nazarene struck back with a chance of their own in the 23^rd minute.  Sarah Jenkins fired a shot that was saved by Kelsey Bechtholdt, who made her first career start in goal.
 
Central tallied again the 39^th minute.  Nolte crossed a ball in from the right wing, finding Kennedy Anson.  Anson beat Ortiz from 15 yards out for her first career goal and a 2-0 lead.
 
"Kennedy has come close a lot and been almost there," Farrand said of his sophomore forward.  "She hit a terrific shot and shaped it back the other way, she finished one of the most difficult shots we've seen all year.  I'm happy for her, with what we've been doing all year, she works hard."
 
The Crusaders generated an early chance in the second half.  Jenkins again found a shooting lane in the 47^th minute, but Bechtholdt turned the shot aside again.  Bectholdt made her third save of the game in the 50^th minute on a shot by Madi Taylor.
 
Central Washington generated seven shots in the second half, four of which came within the 68^th and 71^st minute. 
 
Bechtholdt finished with three saves and earned.  Nolte notched two assists.  The Wildcats' defense held Taylor, the Crusaders' top goal getter, to just one shot.
 
"Karlee Goehner has been awesome," Farrand said of his defensive midfielder.  "She is playing in a new role for us.  Her play this year has been fantastic every game.  She's winning balls and not letting players in. She continues to improve every game."
 
Central Washington is on the road for its final three games of the regular season.  The Wildcats finish their regular season home schedule with a 5-2-1 record.
 
The Wildcats are on the road Saturday (Oct. 22) for a rivalry match against No. 1 Western Washington.