SEATTLE, Wash. – The Central Washington University women's soccer team (2-1-0) fell to Seattle Pacific University (7-0-1), 5-2.
 
"They are one of the top teams in the region," CWU Head Coach Michael Farrand said. "Disappointed by the results and effort we put out on the field today."
 
The Falcons wasted no time finding the scoreboard. Sophie Beadle slotted the first chance she got, giving SPU a 1-0 advantage in the sixth minute of play. Beadle made her way towards goal again in the 10^th minute, but Emily Thomson turned her effort away.
 
"Seattle Pacific is a great team, a great counterattacking team," Farrand added. "We gave up easy goals at critical times that came back to haunt us. Fighting back from there is a tough place to be."
 
Central found themselves inside the attacking third in the 13^th minute, giving Jaxyn Farmen a chance at goal. Riley Travis made the stop for the Falcons, keeping the 1-0 lead intact.
 
Just four minutes later, Makinzie Packwood levelled the score line with her second goal of the season. In response, the Falcons nearly took the lead one more but Thomson was there to turn the shot aside.
 
Seattle Pacific regained a one-goal advantage in the 35^th minute, as Chloe Gellhaus netted the go-ahead marker with an assist from Beadle. A corner kick just seconds later led to a shot from Madison Ibale and was met by Thomson.
 
A pair of late shots for the Falcons rounded out the offensive chances in the opening 45 minutes. Both shots were rebuffed by Thomson, who finished the first half with six saves.
 
The second half started much the same as the first. Early pressure from the Falcons gave way to Beadle's second goal of the contest just three minutes into the second stanza.
 
Central Washington had a pair of shots in the 56^th minute, one from Farmen and one from Grace Jackson, but the former missed high and the latter was parried by Travis.
 
Claire Neder had a flurry of shots in the 59^th minute, giving way to a corner kick at the start of the 61^st minute. Off the corner, the Falcons made it 4-1 on a goal from Mariah Alexander with Neder getting the assist.
 
Megan Fox made her second save of the game in the 71^st minute, turning aside a chance on goal from Gellhaus. In the 78^th minute, however, Gellhaus was able to beat the Wildcats' keeper for a 5-1 edge.
 
Looking to shorten the deficit, Jayme Woodfill fired a shot on goal in the 79^th minute and was met by Travis to keep the game at 5-1.
 
After a quiet nine minutes, Packwood struck for a second time. Sydney Lowe found Packwood open and the ensuing shot beat Travis.
 
"We gave up a little bit too early, but we battled back a bit more in the second half," Farrand noted. "I think we should be disappointed because we didn't bring the effort to compete and it gives us a lot to work on as we turn the page and look towards Western. It was definitely a growth day for us."
 
Seattle Pacific outshot the Wildcats 23-9 and 15-6 in shots on goal. Fox made four saves in the second half of play. Central Washington joins Western Washington as the only two teams to score on the Falcons this season.
 
The Wildcats will host Western Washington on Saturday (May 8). Kick-off is slated for 2:00 PM.