ELLENSBURG, Wash. (Sept. 14) – Smoke and air quality concern halted an offense-driven contest between the Central Washington University women's soccer team and Fresno Pacific University at 4-4 after 90 minutes. 
 
The Wildcats move to 1-3-1 overall, while Fresno Pacific is now 0-4-1. 
 
"We started out great and we've done that the last couple games," CWU Head Coach Michael Farrand said afterward.  We got a goal early, but put ourselves down 3-1 midway through the first half. If you look at the second half, we responded well.  I think both teams were worn down by each other.  With the air quality and smoke being what it is, we had to draw."
 
Mackenzie Nolte got the Wildcats on the board early in the fourth minute.  Sophia Keenan sent a low cross into the box, where Nolte was able to one-touch the ball past the keeper.
 
The Sunbirds found the equalizer just minutes later.  Mariah Montoya beat the Wildcat defense and put the ball over the goal line in the ninth minute.
 
Anissia Gonzalez put the Sunbirds ahead 2-1 in the 25^th minute.  Whitney Snow found space and sent a through ball to Gonzalez who finished for the lead.
 
No more than two minutes later the Sunbirds struck again.  A turnover off the restart gave Fresno Pacific possession.  Vanessa Cassilas found an open Jessica Dondlnger and Dondliger beat the Wildcats' keeper for a 3-1 lead in the 26^th minute.
 
Nolte cut the deficit down to just one with her second goal of the contest in the 32^nd minute.  Whitney Lowe sent a ball from near midfield onto Nolte, who beat the Sunbirds' back line and the keeper for a 3-2 score line.  Nolte wasn't quite finished on offense, however.
 
Eleven minutes later, in the 43^rd minute, Nolte finished her hat trick.  Emily Russell sent a cross into the top of the 18, where Nolte sent it goalward to level the score at 3-3 for her first hat trick of the season.  Nolte is the seventh player in CWU history to complete a hat trick and the second player to record a natural hat trick of three goals in a single half.  Jenny Merkle is the only other player to record a natural hat trick in 1999.
 
"Mack did a great job," Farrand said.  "She got chances that she finished.  When you're a forward you only need to look to the next one and she got three today.  It says a lot about who she is as a player and what she means to us."
 
Both offense remained quiet into the half and for the first 15 minutes of the second period, until Keenan notched her second of the season.
 
Molly Edvalds gathered the ball on the wing and into the box.  Edvalds split the defenders and the keeper on a one-timed pass to Keenan who sent it into the back of the net, taking a 4-3 lead.
 
The Sunbired retaliated in the 80^th minute on a goal from Mackenzie Reynolds.  A pass from Mia Castillo on the left wing found Reynolds open in the box who finished her shot, levelling the score at 4-4.
 
Due to smoke and air quality, the whistle at the end of regulation concluded the contest, rather than moving to extra time.
 
The Wildcats finished with 19 shots, while holding the Sunbirds to eight.  Central was awarded three corners, all in the first half.
 
The Wildcats are back in action on Sunday against Concordia University in their GNAC opener.  Kick-off is scheduled for noon.