ELLENSBURG, Wash. – Despite nine saves from Liz Canton, the Central Washington University women's soccer team fell to Northwest Nazarene University, 1-0.
 
The Wildcats (2-10-0, 1-7-0) and Nighthawks (6-3-2, 4-3-1) were scoreless for 62 minutes until Ashley Parton put away the game-winner for NNU. Central finished with eight shots, six of which were on goal. The Nighthawks managed 20 shots, 10 were on frame. They also held the advantage in corner kicks. 6-1.
 
"Tough loss," Assistant Coach Emmy Koflanovich said. "We did not come out ready to go and never got in the groove of how we can play. Liz had an amazing game and kept us in the match. She made some fantastic saves for us; it was one of her best games this season."
 
Canton and NNU goalkeeper Alexis Montoya, came under fire early. Canton made her first stop on a shot from Madison Grande in the 8^th minute. Montoya was forced to make consecutive stops on chances from Sydney Lowe and Emily Darcy.
 
 Lowe and Darcy's shots came just five seconds apart. Driving inward from the right wing, Lowe loosed an effort at goal as Montoya came out to challenge. The keeper parried the initial challenge but the rebound caromed to Darcy. She wasted no time taking the shot but Montoya recovered in time to stymie the chance and keep the score at 0-0.
 
Central's next chance came off the boot of Bella Brown in the 18^th minute. Her shot whistled just over the bar. In the 33^rd minute, Sophia Keenan nearly broke the deadlock but Montoya denied the Wildcat senior.
 
A pair of late chances were turned away by Canton. She finished the first half with five saves. Her counterpart made three stops in the opening stanza.
 
It wasn't just in the save column in the box score where Canton and Montoya's efforts were made clear. The pair snuffed out multiple attacking chances with aggressive goalkeeping, challenging attackers near the top of the 18.
 
Both keepers were called on by their sides to make stops early in the second half. Montoya denied Darcy in the 48^th, while Canton turned aside shots from McKenzie Buell and Grande in the 52^nd and 54^th minutes.
 
Northwest Nazarene finally broke through in the 63^rd minute. Parton took possession off a throw-in and fired a left-footed shot to the right post, putting the Nighthawks ahead 1-0.
 
Parton sought a brace, taking a chance at goal two minutes later and was turned away by Canton for the save. Canton broke up two additional attacking opportunities against Parton with well-timed challenges.
 
A chance to even the score in the 69^th minute was sent just wide by Kennan. Finn Sprankle sought the equalizer in the 80^th minute but Montoya's save kept the Nighthawks ahead. In the 84^th minute a foul by Northwest Nazarene gave the Wildcats a free kick on the edge of the attacking third. Maci Parke nearly slipped the ensuing free kick under the crossbar, requiring Montoya to make a frantic stop. The NNU keeper punched the ball over the bar and her side cleared their lines after the corner kick to avert any additional danger.
 
Central Washington is on the road next week. They travel to Saint Martin's University and Western Oregon University for a pair of GNAC fixtures.