Women's Soccer | 8/31/2016 10:53:00 AM

ELLENSBURG, Wash. (Aug. 31) – The Central Washington University soccer team begins its season on a California swing.  The Wildcats begin their season at San Francisco State University before heading over to Sonoma State.
 
The Wildcats played the Gators last season at home, in a match that saw the Wildcats come away with a 2-1 victory.  Reilly Retz and Shaina Mitchell scored for the Wildcats, while the lone goal scorer for SFSU was Laura Shea.
 
"It's Tracy's [Hamm] second year as a head coach and getting her program established, they play really hard for her," CWU Head Coach Michael Farrand said of the Gators.
 
The Gators will rely on senior striker Autumn Fox.  The Thousand Oaks, Calif. native notched three goals and four assists last season, with one game winning goal.  Fox and company are looking to continue making Cox Stadium a tough venue for opponents.  The Gators finished 5-3-1 at home last season.
 
"Having to go anywhere in the CCAA and play is tough," Farrand noted.  "We need to go and put our game plan in place and it will be a good challenge to see where we are at early."
 
Kick off against San Francisco State is scheduled for 11 a.m. on Thursday, Sept. 1.
 
The Wildcats then head to Sonoma State.  Central played Sonoma to a 2-0 loss.  Katie Mohr and Carolyn Greco found the back of the net for the SeaWolves.
 
"Sonoma has another great coach in Emiria [Salzmann Dunn] who has established Sonoma as one of the top teams in the CCAA and even the region," Farrand added.  "It's a crucial game for us to see where we are in the region.  It's a great test for us."
 
Bella Amyx and Alex Sifuentes return to the pitch for the Seawolves after scoring a team-high four goals each last season. 
 
Kick off against Sonoma State is scheduled for 1 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 3.
 
Farrand and the Wildcats know getting off to a good start against quality region opposition will help jumpstart their season.
 
"There are two quality games in there and Sonoma is the marquee matchup in some regard, but it's a great opportunity," Farrand said.
 
The Wildcats will look for a strong showing from their returners.  Whitney Lowe returns after scoring a team-best five goals last season.  She finished 2015 with a total of 15 points on the year.  Central will also look for strong play from central midfielder Reilly Retz, who posted four goals and two assists in 2015.
 
Farrand brought in a pair of freshman keepers in Emily Bechtholdt and Emily Holt, who will look to the Wildcats' back line of Allie Bohnett, Abby Litka, Jessica Haga, and Meghan Ward to keep attacking opponents at a distance.
 
"We need to take it one game at a time," Farrand acknowledged.  "We have a group of great girls who are ready to compete.  We need to play attacking soccer and get out on the front foot.  We are going to find out right away where our pluses and minuses are. "