ELLENSBURG, WASH (Oct. 18) – Sydney Lowe scored her first collegiate goal in the 53
rd minute to lift the Central Washington University (3-7-4, 3-4-2) women's soccer team to a 1-0 victory over Montana State University Billings (4-9-1, 1-8-0).
A mere minute and 45 seconds into the game, the Yellowjackets got their first chance, but the shot was sent spinning in front of the goal line from a low-angled area. Central's defense held their own and only allowed two more shots in the first half.
Emily Thomson made her first of the afternoon in the seventh minute, snuffing out a scoring opportunity from Jordan Devoto.
Both offenses went relatively quiet, until
Bailey Martoncik fired a shot off the post to nearly break the 0-0 deadlock.
Jordan Engman found the next opportunity for the Wildcats, forcing Lili Delgadillo to make a save in the 34
th minute.
With just moments left in the first half,
Olivia Sloan fired a shot that whistled just over the crossbar. Going into the half the game remained deadlocked at zero.
"I thought Billings played fantastic," CWU Head Coach
Michael Farrand said afterward. They matched us and worked really hard to keep the game equal. It was a tough game for us, but I think it really showed how resilient this team is."
The resilience that Coach Farrand mentioned came into play early in the second half.
In the 53
rd minute, Lowe notched her first collegiate marker. Senior
Kennedy Anson poked the ball free from a defender and it was collected by Lowe who floated it over the head of Delgadillo.
"Syd has been playing really well for us and we have been trying to get her to go to the goal a little bit more," Farrand noted. "She got that ball at the top and I'm glad she took that risk."
The Yellowjackets' offense was keen to respond. Juila Keller fired a shot goalward in the 61
st minute, but Thomson parried it aside. The Wildcats' sophomore keeper earned her third clean sheet of the season.
Following the goal, the Wildcats played lockdown defense lead by seniors
Emily Minogue and
Olivia Olason. Central only allowed one shot on goal the rest of the game to seal the conference win and their first home victory over the season.
The Wildcats host Saint Martin's University on Saturday (Oct. 20) for Senior Day. Kick-off is scheduled for noon at Tomlinson Stadium.