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ELLENSBURG (Oct. 10) -- Senior TARAH DUTY (Black Diamond/Tahoma HS) scored at the 13th minute, and sophomore AMANDA WHITE (Maple Valley/Tahoma HS) and the Central Washington University defense made the goal stand up as the Wildcat women's soccer team defeated visiting Seattle Pacific University, 1-0, on Thursday afternoon.

The Wildcats, ranked 10th in this week's NSCAA Division II West Region poll, improved to 6-4-0 overall and 5-2-0 in Great Northwest Athletic Conference play at the midway point of the league season. They moved into a second-place tie in the conference standings with the Falcons (8-3-0, 5-2-0 GNAC) while earning just their third series victory in 25 all-time meetings between the two schools.

Duty's goal -- her first of the season and just the second of her four-year career at CWU -- came on a shot from the left side of the field about 25 yards away. The attempt caromed off the right post and into the goal behind SPU goalkeeper Natalie Harold to give the Wildcats a 1-0 lead. Redshirt freshman KATLYN SARGENT (Bremerton/Klahowya HS) was credited with the assist.

From that point forward, it was on the shoulders of White and the CWU defense to keep the shutout intact. That, the Wildcats did, as White was asked to make just one save in the first half, and she had just one stop to make in the final 45 minutes.

The shutout by the Wildcats over the Falcons was just their second in the all-time series that dates back to 2001. It marked the first time that CWU had blanked SPU since the Falcons' inaugural season 12 years ago -- also a 1-0 win by the Crimson and Black in Ellensburg.

Each team was credited with 14 shot attempts in the match. Six of the Wildcats' tries made it on goal against Harold, including two shots on goal each by sophomore REILLY RETZ (Kent/Kentwood HS) and junior HADLI FARRAND (Ellensburg).

CWU remains home this Saturday, opening the second half of the conference schedule against Simon Fraser University in an 11 a.m. start. The Wildcats will then play five of their final six regular-season matches on the road.