ELLENSBURG, Wash. – The Central Washington University women's soccer team scored three unanswered goals to claim a 3-2 victory over Simon Fraser University (1-8-1, 1-5-0) in a Great Northwest Athletic Conference match.
 
The Wildcats (5-4-1, 3-1-1) fell behind in the first half, but were able to bring the score even before halftime. 
 
Simon Fraser got the game's first chance on goal in the 15^th minute.  Giuliana Zaurrini fired a shot low and it was met by Emily Thomson for her first save of the contest. 
 
Madison Bradley had the Wildcats' first shot in the 16^th minute.  The first chance on goal came from Sydney Lowe in the 19^th minute.  Her shot was turned aside by Nicole Anderson, however.
 
In the 20^th minute, Simon Fraser received a corner kick after the ball caromed over the end line off of a Wildcat defender.  Kiara Buono slipped inside the 18 and laid a ball into the six where Jenieva Musico hit a one-timed effort past the keeper. 
 
The Clan received a brace just three minutes later.  This time Musico found Buono in the middle of the pitch.  Buono was a step ahead of the Wildcat defense and buried a breakaway goal for the 2-0 advantage.
 
Central Washington halved their deficit in the 28^th minute.  Madison Hinkel played Molly Edvalds inside the 18 and finished her chance for her first goal of the season. 
 
After two corner kicks for Simon Fraser, the Wildcats struck again.  A ricocheted ball found its way to Paige Devine, who lofted a ball from beyond the 18 and floated it over the goalkeeper for her first of the season.
 
"Our defense broke down a little in the beginning and we let some balls slip through," Devine said.  "We have to stay focused and we can put it back together. We just needed to tie the game and I had an open shot so I took it."
 
Simon Fraser's Kayla Goncalves had the final chance of the first half, but Thomson was there again to keep the game even.
 
At the final whistle of the first half, Simon Fraser held a slim 7-6 advantage in shots and an 8-3 advantage in corner kicks.
 
The start of the second half saw little offensive opportunities for the first three minutes.  Bella Brown and Lowe were the first to pencil their names into the shot chart, both were turned away from Anderson.
 
Both offenses went silent until the 65^th minute.  With the Clan backed into their own end, Simon Fraser's back line desperately needed a clearance.  Bradley, however, had other ideas.  She blocked the attempted clearance and fed Teanna Lathum, who tallied her first goal of her collegiate career for a 1-0 lead. 
 
Buono found a chance at an equalizer in the 67^th minute, but it was turned aside by Thomson.  Teagan Mackay had Simon Fraser's next effort at goal and again Thomson was there to make the stop. 
 
Sophia Keenan and Hinkel had consecutive shots in the 76^th and 79^th minutes, both stopped by Anderson.  Lowe had chance in the 82^nd minute, but it was met by Anderson.  The Central defense kept Simon Fraser off the shot chart for the final 20 minutes of the contest.
 
"I think we are still 50/50 on defense," CWU Head Coach Michael Farrand said.  "Paige is right, we let the splits in and we had a battle when we were up there.  We are fortunate the ladies battled back and put the game back together with two goals.  If you look at the end of the game, Bradley closing, winning a ball, and slotting a ball to Teanna for the game winner.  That's us working together to get it done and this is a great group.  We are still a little hot and cold, but we need to find a way to be more hot than cold.  Simon Fraser has battled everybody this year and have played well, we need to find ways to play above the game and play level."
 
The Wildcats finished with 13 shots, outshooting Simon Fraser 7-4 in the second stanza.  Thomson made five saves in the victory. 
 
Central Washington is back at home on Saturday (Oct. 19) as they host Seattle Pacific University.  Kick-off is scheduled for 4:00 p.m.