NAMPA, Idaho – Sophia Keenan scored the lone goal as the Central Washington University women's soccer team (6-5-1, 4-2-1) unleashed a cannonade of shots against Northwest Nazarene University (5-7-2, 2-4-2) in a 1-0 victory.
 
"We had a great first half, we played really well," CWU Head Coach Michael Farrand said.  "You take the game against SFU, we were down 2-0 in the first 10 minutes.  Every minute since then, we've been on fire.  We've had to make some lineup changes, Tommy comes up with two big saves, and we scored goals.  Sophia with a rocket shot on a free kick earlier we thought for sure was going in.  Then she's able to finally get one later in the game and an assist for Bella [Brown].  Defensively, Chelsea [Marozik] and Lyss [Barden] played their best game together of the season.  I'm extremely proud and happy we get to go home with three points."
 
The Wildcats dominated the first half of play, outshooting the Nighthawks 13-5.  They forced Alexis Montoya to make seven stops in the first half.
 
Keenan and Madison Bradley each had a chance within the first five minutes of play, but neither was able to bury their shot.  Keenan's chance in the seventh minute was turned away by Montoya, the first save of her night.
 
Peyton Vogel was next to challenge the NNU keeper, firing a shot low and away, but Montoya kept it aside as well.  Madison Hinkel and Vogel had consecutive chances in the 19^th and 20^th minutes, both stopped by Montoya. 
 
In between the Wildcats' opportunities, the Nighthawks fired a pair of shots which were met by Emily Thomson.  She made stops on Carolyn Moravec and Brooke Felzien in the 17^th and 18^th minutes, respectively.
 
Northwest Nazarene nearly found a first half advantage in the 32^nd a minute.  A shot from Rikki Myers made its way goalwards and was kept out by a Wildcat defender.
 
Paige Devine took a chance on goal in the 37^th minute, forcing Montoya back into the action after some brief respite.
 
Thomson was called on again near the end of the first half.  She turned aside a shot from Makenna Alfson to keep the game level.
 
Montoya made the final save of the contest's opening half, turning away an effort from Hinkel in the 45^th minute.  The rebound caromed to Sydney Lowe, who blasted a shot off a defender for a corner kick in the waning seconds.  Central was unable to build an opportunity from the late corner and the half time whistle closed the first stanza at 0-0.
 
Momentum swung to Northwest Nazarene early in the second half.  The Nighthawks fired off three shots within the first four minutes, earning a pair of corner kicks. 
 
Ashley Parton got the Nighthawks' first real chance of the half in the 61^st minute.  A turnover by Central Washington granted Northwest Nazarene possession near the middle of the pitch.  Parton broke through the Wildcats' back line and found herself in all alone with the keeper.  Thomson broke from her line and stymied the attack, preserving a 0-0 deadlock.
 
Bella Brown sent a shot low to the left post in the 71^st minute, but Montoya made the stop.  She would be forced to make another save two minutes later on Molly Edvalds.  The ensuing rebound off Edvalds shot was gathered by Keenan.  She blasted a shot towards a near open net, but a Nighthawk defender blocked the would-be go-ahead goal.
 
Kylee Dillon nearly found the answer to Montoya in the 76^th minute, sending a close-range shot low and away from the keeper.  Montoya was able to make the save, however, and keep level pegging for a few more minutes.
 
In the 79^th minute, Brown found Keenan with a headed pass and Keenan didn't miss.  She buried her chance, putting Central ahead 1-0.
 
The Wildcats outshot NNU 9-5 in the second half and put four shots on frame.
 
Central Washington's back line, anchored by Alyssa Barden and Chelsea Marozik, clamped down and held the Nighthawks to just one shot in the final 11 minutes of play.  Jade Zimmer's shot came in the final minute of play and was sent wide left as the Wildcats hung on for the 1-0 victory.
 
The Crimson and Black are back in action on Saturday (Oct. 26) as they host Western Washington University.  Kick-off is scheduled for 2:00 p.m.