MONMOUTH, Ore. (Oct. 25) – Emily Russell's 81^st minute goal lifted the Central Washington University (5-8-4, 5-5-2) women's soccer team to a 1-0 win over Western Oregon University (5-9-2, 3-7-1) in their regular season finale.
 
"Just a great sequence leading up to Emily's goal," CWU Head Coach Michael Farrand said.  "She cut in at the top of the box and served away.  It was upper 90 away and she beat the keeper.  We joked around a bit with her earlier today about possibly scoring her second goal after she scored the winner on Senior Day and she came through.  She is well on her way to being another great two or three for us."
 
The Wildcats' offense wasted no time getting going.  Madison Bradley fired a shot wide right in the 10^th minute, before Lexsi Manning forced Alex Qualls to make her first save of the contest in the 13^th minute on a low drive from 25 yards out.
 
Kelsey Bechtholdt made her first save in the 16^th minute, parrying a shot taken from 16 yards out by Chelsea Hartnett.
 
"It's always tough for a keeper to just jump in, but Kelsey did a great job for us and definitely earned the clean sheet," Farrand noted.  "We've played four games in eight days.  I think it says a lot about the quality of the girls we have in our program and the strides we've made.  Everyone is ready to contribute at any time."
 
Becchtholdt was tested again in the 40^th minute, parrying a one-timed effort by Morgan Roan.  Neither team was able to find the score sheet before halftime. 
 
KK Wallace kick-started the Wildcats' offense in the second half, driving a shot just wide only 62 seconds into the second stanza.  Bradley followed suit with a shot of her own in the 48^th minute. 
 
Makinzie Packwood nearly broke the scoreless tie, sending a shot across the face of the goal in the 60^th minute.  She had another chance in the 78^th minute, sending a shot whizzing past the crossbar.  Just a minute later, Packwood fired a shot from 20 yards out but Qualls made the stop.
 
Russell's goal broke the scoreless deadlock in the 81^st minute.  She spun off a defender and fired a shot towards the far post, beating Qualls and lifting the Wildcats to their fifth conference victory of the year.
 
"Last year we only had five points in conference and this year we bounced back and end with 17 points," Farrand added.  "It speaks to all the work our seniors and underclassmen put in.  It's a great way to give the seniors one more gift, to send them out on a winning note."
 
Afterward, Farrand spoke candidly about his senior class and their perseverance to bounce back in 2018.
 
"It was another great day for Kennedy [Anson]," Farrand noted. "She refused to quit.  You look at the miles we put on her legs this year and she never had any quit in her.  KK [Wallace] has had a great season and really found her stride in the second half of the year.  Lex [Manning] was a phenomenal leader on and off the pitch for us and has been a rock for us.   You can see what we miss when Bailey [Martoncik] isn't in the lineup and everything that she brings to the field in her leadership and ability to distribute.  Emily [Minogue] stepped up big time for us, she logged some tough minutes in big games.  Olivia [Olason] brought fantastic leadership to the team and was an anchor for us on the backline.  This group was crucial in helping us reshape the culture this year and we will miss them greatly."