SEATTLE, Wash. (Sept. 10) – The Central Washington University women's soccer team fell to Stanislaus State University on a pair of late goals, 2-1.
The Wildcats are now 1-3-0 on the season, while Stanislaus moves to 5-0-0.
Central's offense came out of the gate firing.
Jordan Engman and
Mackenzie Nolte both fired shots prior to the 7
th minute.
Whitney Lowe added another shot in the 22
nd minute before the Warriors managed to get their first shot.
Freshman
Sophia Keenan finished her first collegiate goal in the 33
rd minute. Keenan took a pass from Lowe off the deck and beat Stanislaus keeper Alysa Herrman for a 1-0 lead.
"Sophia has been awesome for us," CWU Head Coach
Michael Farrand said. "She finished a great ball in and she's a fantastic player to watch. It will be exciting watching her develop and grow with us."
The Wildcats continued to pile on chances in the opening half. Lowe,
Emmi Seelbach, and
Kennedy Anson each recorded shots between the 34
th and 38
th minutes.
The final chance of the half came with just over one minute left in the period. Julia Cummings fired a shot at Wildcats' keeper
Emily Holt, who turned the shot aside to preserve the lead.
Central Washington continued to press and generate chances in the second half, but the Warriors' offense found their footing as well after the half time whistle.
Holt was called on again in the 52
nd minute to turn away consecutive chances from Jade Poon, keeping the Wildcats' 1-0 lead intact.
The Wildcats got possibly their best chance at an insurance marker in the 62
nd minute. From a corner kick taken by Seelbach, Keenan laced a shot that was parried by substitute keeper Haley Crook. Nolte then took a chance on goal that missed wide left. After the ensuing goal kick, a turnover led the Wildcats back into the attacking third for a pair of chances.
Keenan again struck a ball goalward, but was rebuffed by the post. The rebound caromed to
KK Wallace, who drive a shot past Crook but just wide of the frame.
The Warriors found the back of the net in the 65
th minute. A newly entered Julia Cummings drove up the right wing and sent a service across the 18, finding the foot of Poon, who was able to finish the equalizer with under 30 minutes to play.
The Wildcats mounted yet another offensive, but could not find a way past Crook. Nolte fired a shot on goal in the 79
th minute, but was turned aside.
Lexsi Manning took a chance from outside the 18 in the 81
st minute, but her shot flew just high of the crossbar.
Stanislaus found a lane in the 88
th minute on a counter attack. Kassandra Le raced up the sideline in possession as the Wildcats looked to return to form after their attack, but Le found Gabriela Vargas before the Wildcats could fully recover. Vargas drove a low shot that found its way to the back of the net, giving the Warriors a 2-1 lead with 2:34 remaining in regulation.
"We've been imploding at 25 minutes, so we got through the first half," Farrand added. "It was a great first half for us, complete in so many ways. Even at 1-1 we had chances to create goals, which we haven't done this year. We need to find a way to complete 90 minutes. We are solid; I think the two injuries in the middle of the back line unsettled us a bit. We had a chance to add insurance and we are now generating chances that we weren't. We finished three offside goals and I'd say they were pretty close. We created some great opportunities to finish, but when you don't put those balls in and you give the other team a chance to keep battling back, you run the risk of them finishing. "
The Wildcats finished with 15 shots and four corners. Lowe and Nolte each tallied four shots. Holt finished with five saves.
"We need to do better," Farrand finished. "We have one final tune-up before conference, I don't think it is do or die, but we need to do. We need to improve a little bit more."
The Wildcats take on Fresno Pacific University in their final tune-up of the non-conference portion of their schedule on Thursday (Sept. 14). Kick-off is scheduled for 3 p.m. at the CWU Soccer Complex.
