ELLENSBURG, Wash. (Sept. 24) – Mackenzie Nolte's 83^rd minute goal lifted the Central Washington University women's soccer team to a 1-0 victory over Seattle Pacific.  The Wildcats improve to 6-2-0 overall and 1-1-0 in the Great Northwest Athletic Conference.  The Falcons fall to 5-2-1 and 2-1-0 in GNAC play.
 
"In the second half we played great," CWU Head Coach Michael Farrand said. "We got a ball in early where Emmi was able to get in and Mac pushed it just wide.  We got to the last minutes and KK split Mac in and she was able to finish." 
 
A flurry of shots were fired on both goalkeepers, but only one was able to find into the back of the net.  Freshman goalkeeper Emily Holt made four saves for Central Washington, while SPU's Molly Stinson made two saves. 
 
The Wildcats opened the match with a shot by Keilin Farrand in the fourth minute, but it was blocked by SPU defenders.  The Falcons got a corner in the 10^th minute, leading to a shot by Hannah Huesers that went high.  
 
A Wildcat corner in the 21^st minute led to Nolte's first shot and Stinson's first save, as the Falcon keeper was able to turn the shot aside. 
 
Holt made her first save in the 26^th minute on a shot from Huesers.
 
"For us it's three points and we needed to make a statement," Farrand noted.  "We had a battle all night with Hannah [Huesers]; she's a fantastic player and we were able to keep her away from the goal." 
 
Central Washington opened the second half with a bombardment of shots towards the Falcons' net.  Emily Seelbach pushed a shot just wide right 26 seconds into the second half.  Allie Bohnett then missed high in the 49^th minute.  Bailey Martonick put a shot on frame in the 50^th minute that was kept out by Stinson. 
 
A corner for Seattle Pacific in the 55^th minute generated an opportunity for the Falcons, but a shot by Hannah Lemm went wide left. 
 
In the 71^st minute Huesers blasted a shot on goal that was parried away by Holt, netting the Falcons another corner.  Julia DeVere's shot off the corner pushed left and the pressure dissipated once more.
 
Michaela Wallace found Nolte through a pair of defenders in the 83^rd minute.  Nolte's shot came from 10 yards out and beat Stinson low for the 1-0 advantage.
 
The Falcons had one final chance in the 84^th minute, but Huesers shot went high. 
 
Nolte's goal was the first to be scored on Seattle Pacific's home turf by a visiting squad in 207 minutes.  The Wildcats victory was also the first time an away team captured a win since the Falcons lost to Western Washington on October 1, 2015.
 
"It was a must needed three points," Farrand said.  "It was a good effort by everyone, it was definitely a better approach from us tonight than it was earlier this week.  Emily [Holt] came up big for us.  Mackenzie [Nolte] was the player of the game for us with her game winner."
 
The Wildcats are back at home next week against Western Oregon on Thursday (Sept. 29) and Montana State Billings on Saturday (Oct. 1).  Kickoff is scheduled for 3 p.m. on Thursday and noon for Saturday.