ELLENSBURG, Wash. – The Central Washington University women's soccer team takes on No. 7 Western Washington University in the semi-finals of the Great Northwest Athletic Conference Championship.
 
MATCH INFORMATION
Thursday, Nov. 14
4:00 p.m.
vs No. 7 Western Washington
Interbay Stadium
Seattle, WA
 
QUOTABLE
"We are up against one of the premier programs in the country," CWU Head Coach Michael Farrand said.  "We played an average game up there, where we didn't play well, and had a great game here where we did.  I think the matchup is good for us.  We need to change the shape of the game for them and continue to focus on what we do well."
 
SCOUTING NO.7 WESTERN WASHINGTON
The Vikings finished the GNAC schedule with a perfect record 12-0-0 record and 36 points, while holding a 16-2-0 record overall. 
 
Western Washington is one of only three teams to finish conference play perfect in the GNAC's 19-year history.  They achieved the feat in 2016 during their national championship season.  Seattle Pacific went 14-0-0 in 2007.
 
During GNAC play this season, the Vikings outscored their opponents 45-3.  They recorded nine clean sheets in 12 GNAC games.  One of the three goals allowed in GNAC play came in Ellensburg.  Olivia Sloan found Sophia Keenan in the 67^th minute, when Keenan buried her second goal of the season.
 
Leading the Vikings' offense with six goals and five points is Liv Larson.  She scored in both games against the Wildcats this season.  Zoe Milburn has also recorded six goals, tying the team lead.  Grace Eversaul has tallied five goals and five assists.  In total, 14 players scored multiple goals for Western this year.  Karli White led the Vikings in assists with eight, she missed tying Larson's team leading 17 points by one.  Western Washington outscored opponents 51-6.
 
Natalie Dierickx accumulated 1,423 minutes in goal over 17 games.  She posted a 15-2-0 record and a goals against average of 0.38.  Dierickx made 34 saves on the season and allowed just six goals. 
 
LAST TIME OUT
The Wildcats closed out the season with a 3-1 loss at Western Oregon.  Kylee Dillon scored for the Crimson and Black.  In their final home match of the season, the Wildcats blanked Northwest Nazarene 3-0.  Teanna Lathum scored twice, while Madison Bradley added the third goal.  Emily Thomson made six saves in the victory.
 
GNAC CHAMPIONSHIP
Central Washington was last in the GNAC Championship in 2016.  They fell to Seattle Pacific 2-0 in Burnaby, British Columbia before taking down the Falcons in Seattle during the opening round of the NCAA Division II West Regional. 
 
In 2014, the Wildcats met Western Washington in the GNAC Championship semi-final in Tukwila, Washington.  The Vikings captured a 2-1 victory as the No. 1 seed. Keilin Farrand scored the Wildcats' goal. 
 
This year's GNAC Championship is held at Interbay Stadium, the home pitch of Seattle Pacific University, in Seattle.  Western Washington enters as the number one seed, while Central Washington is the number four seed.  Seattle Pacific claimed the number two seed and will play number three seeded Western Oregon at 7:00 p.m. on Thursday.