ELLENSBURG, Wash. – The Central Washington University soccer team welcomes Metro State and UC Merced to Ellensburg this week for the CWU Women's Soccer Tournament, marking the Wildcats' home debut at Tomlinson Stadium. After opening the season against a pair of challenging CCAA opponents at the Humboldt Kickoff Classic, CWU returns home looking to build momentum in front of its home crowd.
INSIDE THE MATCHUP:
Thursday, Sep. 3, 2026
Central Washington vs Metro State
5:30 p.m.
Steve Hertling Field at Tomlinson Stadium
Ellensburg, Wash.
WATCH
LIVE STATS
TICKETS
HISTORY
Saturday, Sep. 5, 2026
Central Washington vs UC Merced
1:00 p.m.
Steve Hertling Field at Tomlinson Stadium
Ellensburg, Wash.
WATCH
LIVE STATS
TICKETS
HISTORY
LAST WEEKEND:
The Wildcats opened the season with a hard-fought 1-0 loss to host Cal Poly Humboldt on Aug. 27. After a scoreless first half, the Lumberjacks broke through just 69 seconds into the second half for the match's lone goal. Goalkeeper
Danika Galbraith kept CWU within striking distance with six saves, while
Alexa Stanfield recorded the Wildcats' lone shot on goal. Humboldt held an 11-7 edge in shots, but Central Washington limited the hosts to a single score in a tightly contested season opener.
CWU followed with a 2-0 setback against Stanislaus State on Aug. 29, despite producing one of the stronger offensive performances of the tournament. The Wildcats outshot the Warriors 12-11, placed seven shots on target, and earned a 4-2 advantage in corner kicks.
Haley Engstrom led CWU with three shots, while
Marisa Badillo added two attempts and five different Wildcats put shots on frame. Galbraith made five saves in goal, but Stanislaus State capitalized on scoring chances in the 39th and 86th minutes to secure the victory. Despite the 0-2 start, the Wildcats showed defensive resilience and attacking promise as they prepare for their home opener against Metro State and UC Merced this week.
SCOUTING THE ROADRUNNERS:
Metro State opened its season with a 0-1-1 record after earning a 1-1 draw against Angelo State before falling 3-1 to Point Loma. The Roadrunners rallied for a second-half equalizer against Angelo State to secure their first result of the season, then faced a tough Point Loma squad that built a two-goal halftime advantage. MSU Denver cut the deficit to one midway through the second half but was unable to complete the comeback, finishing the opening weekend with one point from two matches.
Grace Johnson and Jaslyn Sanders have accounted for Metro State's two goals this season, with Johnson scoring against Angelo State and Sanders finding the net against Point Loma. Sandra Swartz leads the team with one assist, while goalkeeper Kiley Hyde has started both matches and recorded four saves. The Roadrunners have generated 10 total shots through two contests and enter the week averaging one goal per match.
SCOUTING THE BOBCATS:
UC Merced opened the season with an impressive 4-0 victory over Vanguard, controlling play from start to finish in Costa Mesa. The Bobcats outshot Vanguard 15-4, held a 7-0 advantage in shots on goal, and posted a shutout in their season opener. After taking a 1-0 lead into halftime, UC Merced broke the match open with three second-half goals to begin the year with a convincing win.
Jocelin Roa led the attack with two goals on a team-high five shots, while Andrea Alvarenga added a goal and an assist. Alexia Alva also contributed an assist, and Kamryn Taylor added a late goal off the bench. Defensively, goalkeeper Alicia Lepe and the Bobcat back line did not face a shot on goal, helping secure the clean sheet. UC Merced's balanced attack featured four players recording either a goal or assist as the Bobcats scored four times on seven shots on target.
UP NEXT:
The 'Cats open the CWU Women's Soccer Tournament against Metro State on Thursday evening. Kick-off from Tomlinson Stadium is set for 5:30 p.m., following the conclusion of the Saint Martin's- UC Merced match.
