SEATTLE, Wash. -  Bella Brown scored, but the Central Washington University women's soccer team (8-9-1) fell to No. 7 Western Washington University (17-2-1) in the Great Northwest Athletic Conference Championship semi-final, 2-1. 
 
The Wildcats are the only team to score at least one goal in more than one game against Western Washington this season.  Simon Fraser and Concordia both scored a goal against the Vikings, the Wildcats scored on a shot from Sophia Keenan on October 26 before Brown's goal in today's contest. 
 
Central Washington's appearance in the GNAC Championship was their fourth in eight years, more than any GNAC school not named Western Washington or Seattle Pacific. 
 
Goalkeeper Emily Thomson was tested early.  Dayana Diaz took a shot on goal in the third minute, forcing Thomson into action.  The junior keeper turned the opening test aside.  Six minutes later, Liv Larson took a chance at goal but Thomson turned it aside again.  She was tested again in the 15^th minute when Karli White put a shot on frame and for the third time in the first half, Thomson came away with the save.
 
White struck first in the 31^st minute.  She ripped an eight-yard shot into the upper right corner of the net for a 1-0 lead.
 
The Wildcats wasted no time responding.  Sydney Lowe started the attack, before Paige Devine and Sophia Keenan combined to find Brown in the 18.  Brown buried her shot for her first goal of the season and the equalizer.
 
In the 38^th minute, Lowe fired a shot on goal but it was snatched up by Natalie Dierickx.  On the counterattack, Lindsey Fujiwara rang her shot off the crossbar.  After 45 minutes of play, the game stood even at 1-1.
 
Western Washington regained the lead in the 65^th minute.  Diaz slipped a one-timed shot through the Wildcats' defense from eight yards out, taking a 2-1 advantage.
 
"I thought we matched everything they had and there wasn't too much damage early," CWU Head Coach Michael Farrand said.  "They held possession more, but they never really got in.  I thought the response of how we got forward and scored, Bella had a great finish with another shaped shot away.  I'm really proud of this group's effort and the ability to fight through some adversity. Bella got us back on the board and made the game more interesting.  Those last 15 minutes we changed the formation up.  We brought Syd inside with Sophia, kept Bella up top.  Kept the speed up top with Molly, put Liv as a seven or 11.  I think the backline of Maci, Chelsea, and Alyssa, holding together with as much pressure as Western brings you, I thought the back three really kept us in the game and helped us find opportunities.  We kept the ball in their half for the last 15 minutes of the game."
 
Brown nearly levelled the score again in the 72^nd minute.  She flicked a header on goal, but Dierickx was able to make the stop.
 
Central Washington shifted players forward and began an all-out assault on the Vikings' defense.  Madison Hinkel rifled a shot in the 85^th minute, but it was stymied by a Western defender.  Molly Edvalds had the Wildcats' final chance.  She one-timed a service just over the bar. 
 
"You look at the year, going all the way back to Fresno, we've already talked about the injuries and adversity and you look at the response," Farrand added.  "Their response in terms of getting better and being all-in for each other, they're a great group.  Definitely going to miss Chelsea, she had a fantastic second half of the year.  Molly came in when Mack went out and said she could play if we needed.  We have girls giving back as a program.   She came in and scored a goal against Simon.  As a group, we are still so young, I'm hoping it's a bit of momentum now that we have a taste of it again.  I think it speaks a lot to our progress as a program."