BURNABY, B.C. - Stacia Conely scored her second goal of the season, but the Central Washington University women's soccer team fell to Simon Fraser University, 2-1.
The Wildcats (1-7-1, 0-4-0) doubled their shift total from Thursday, compiling six shots against Simon Fraser (2-4-1, 2-1-0) and allowed 19. Six of Simon Fraser's shots came in the first eight minutes of play.
Liz Canton was hard at work again after making 13 saves against the No. 10 Vikings. She came away with nine stops against the Simon Fraser soccer team. SFU put 11 of their 19 shots on frame.
"Canton has stepped up and has been very aggressive in the box," Assistant coach Emmy Koflanovich said. "She has made some amazing saves from one-v-one's. She kept us in the game."
Simon Fraser put together a flurry of shots out of the gate. Their first two shots came in the first 120 seconds, before Kiara Buono was turned aside by Canton in the sixth minute. A header from Reagan Mackenzie was sent high 40 seconds later, leading to a chance for Giuliana Zaurrini but Canton was there for the stop.
Central found the shot chart in the 20th minute. Bella Brown's effort on goal was met by Kelsey Fisher, keeping the game 0-0. A minute later, the SFU counterattack generated a chance on goal. Canton was there again for the Wildcats.
In the span of 55 seconds, Simon Fraser unleashed four shots on goal in the 26th and 27th minutes. Canon made all four stops, bailing out a beleaguered defense. Simon's offense was able to break through in the 28th minute. Zarruini took a corner kick and twisted it into the net on the back post.
Searching for the equalizer in the final 10 minutes of the opening stanza, Casey Park fired a shot wide before Maci Parke was denied by Fisher. Emily Darcy had the 'Cats final chance of the half, but her shot went wide of the frame.
SFU led 12-4 in shots after the first half. Central held the home side to just seven shots in the back end of the contest.
The Crimson and Black didn't take long to find the equalizer after the restart. Conely picked the pocket of an SFU defender to generate a near breakaway chance in the 52nd minute. She buried a low shot inside the post from 10 yards out, leveling the score at 1-1.
Simon Fraser's attack loosed a trio of shots in retaliation. One rang the post, one denied by Catnon, and the third went high.
The 60th minute marked the beginning of a relatively quiet period offensively for both sides. Simon Fraser managed just two shots in the next 16 minutes, while Central tested Fisher once with a shot from Darcy.
The go-ahead goal came in the 78th minute. Mackenzie Almeida's shot from outside the 18 found the back of the net for a 2-1 Simon Fraser edge.
"It was a much better performance today," Koflanovich added. "We were able to settle it down and get more control of the game. We shut off slightly and SFU was able to capitalize on that. We played a solid 75 minutes and now we have to build off that. We've had four straight road games and we have are heading back home for a couple games. We are excited to get back to friendly confines and get after it this coming week."
Central Washington hosts a pair of GNAC foes next week. On Thursday they welcome Western Oregon to Tomlinson Stadium before Saint Martin's comes to Ellensburg on Saturday. Kick-off is slated for 7:00 p.m. on against Western Oregon and 2:00 p.m. against the Saints.
