ELLENSBURG, Wash. (Sept. 4) – The Central Washington University women's soccer team (0-2-1) dropped its non-conference match against Northwest University (1-5-0) by a 4-1 score.
 
The Wildcats outshot the Eagles 11-8, but Northwest was able to put seven shots on goal to Central's five.  Central Washington received five corners, while Northwest University received just one.
 
"I'm very disappointed," CWU Head Coach Michael Farrand said.  "We've given up seven goals in nearly identical fashion.  Defensively we need to be better.  This was our last game before we get back into DII play and it was a disappointing result.  We had a few decent chances on goal and Sophia [Keenan] scored a great textbook goal for us, but we need to be better."
 
Katie Michkiosky scored the opening goal in just the third minute of play.  Whitney Weaver took a free kick and found Michkiosky in front of the Wildcats' defensive line.  Michkiosky broke free through the Wildcat line and beat the keeper one-on-one for the 1-0 lead.
 
Michkiosky found herself in alone against the keeper again in the 12^th minute.  She worked her way through the Wildcats' back line again and, even though the keeper challenged, Michkiosky was able to slide the shot low underneath the sprawling save attempt for a 2-0 advantage.
 
Sydney Lowe got the Wildcats' first chance at goal in the 28^th minute.  She fired a shot on goal that was turned aside by the Eagles' keeper.  The ensuing corner kick from Jordan Engman led to a shot by Bella Brown, but Kierstin Patefield came up with the save to preserve the lead.
 
The Eagles took a 3-0 lead in the 30^th minute when Weaver picked up a grounded through ball from Michkiosky and beat the Wildcat defense and fire home a shot.  Northwest took the 3-0 lead into halftime. 
 
The Wildcats nearly scored their first home goal of the season in the 56^th minute.  Jordan Engman unleashed a howitzer of a shot that rattled the cross bar.  As the ball caromed back into play, Lowe redirected the loose ball goalward, but the attack was snuffed out by the Eagles.
 
The first 15 minutes of play in the second half went quietly before the Eagles added their fourth marker.  A grounded through ball from Jaclyn Metz found Rylee Rassier, who stepped around the Wildcats' keeper and tucked away the goal.
 
Sophia Keenan scored the Wildcats lone goal in the 78^th minute of play.  Lowe sent a low cross towards the middle of the pitch from the right wing, where it was collected by Keenan inside the attacking third and fired into the back of the net, narrowing the deficit to 4-1. 
 
Keenan got another chance in the 79^th minute, but whistled her shot just over the cross bar.
 
The Wildcats are back in action on Thursday (Sept. 6) when they host Metro State University Denver at 3:00 p.m. at the CWU Soccer Complex.