ELLENSBURG, Wash. – Central Washington's Shaine Mitchell scored the game-winning goal with less than two minutes left in regulation to give the Wildcats a 2-1 non-conference win over the visiting SF State Gators. The hosts rallied from an early 1-0 deficit to spoil the Gators' 2015 regular season opener.
"Today's result was the perfect learning curve for our 18 new players," said first-year head coach
Tracy Hamm. "With CWU's physicality and direct style, we were able to identify areas that we need to improve on. It was a good match, not the result we were hoping for, but one that will certainly help us moving forward."
The Gators' took a 1-0 lead in the 10
th minute as 2014 All-CCAA performer,
Laura Shea connected on a shot from 25 yards out her for first goal of the season.
SF State (0-1-0) looked like it was going to double its lead nine minutes later, but Natasha Gosaico's shot sailed wide left. Shea had another chance for a goal, but her shot attmept sailed high over the goal.
Central Washington (1-1-0) had a chance to tie the match at 1-1 in the 30
th minute, but the Gators'
Karin Nordin stopped Aubrey Rodgers' attempt to tie the match.
The visitors had two more chances late in the half to double their lead, but
Brittany Oldham's shot was stopped by the Wildcats' Amanda White and
Hanna Ghamari's shot was blocked in the final seconds to send the match into halftime with the Gators leading 1-0.
The Gators came out firing early in the second half, but
Cassie Stansberry's shot was blocked by the Wildcat defense and
Vanessa Penuna's shot sailed wide right as the score remained 1-0, SF State.
Central Washington tied the match at 1-1 in the 51
st minute as Reilly Retz's connected on a ball from Jessica Haiga.
SF State had two chances to take the lead, but White stopped both of those in the 80
th minute. The first one came off the foot of Penuna and the second one off the foot of
Danielle Vidal.
With less than two minutes to go in the match, Mackenzie Nolte's shot was blocked but Shaina Mitchell connected on the blocked shot for what proved to be the game-winner for the Wildcats.
Each team recorded 9 shot attempts with the Wildcats holding a 6-4 advantage in shot on goal attempts. The hosts also held a 6-4 advantage in corner kicks.
Nordin had four saves in goal for the Gators in her first start in goal for SF State while White had three saves for Central Washington.
"We had a few great opportunities," added Hamm. "CWU capitalized on theirs and we didn't."
SF State will return to the pitch this Monday, Sept. 7 for a 1:30pm non-conference match with Northwest Nazarene in Nampa, Idaho. The Crusaders lost 3-2 to Regis University yesterday afternoon in their regular season home opener in overtime.
Box Score ------
Gator Athletics has a proud tradition of competitive success within the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA). The department offers 12 intercollegiate sports programs: Baseball, Men's and Women's Basketball, Men's and Women's Cross Country, Men's and Women's Soccer, Softball, Women's Track & Field, Women's Volleyball and Men's Wrestling.
Gator Athletics places great emphasis on academic performance as well as athletic achievement. The program offers student athletes the opportunity to reach their educational goals, as well pursue meaningful athletic accomplishments. For more information, visit SF State Athletics' website, Twitter and Facebook pages.
