Lacey, Wash (Oct. 18) – The Central Washington University women's soccer team defeated Saint Martin's University, 3-1, to climb into third place in Great Northwest Athletic Conference standings.

The win moves the Wildcats to 6-6-2 overall and 5-3-2 in the GNAC, while the Saints fall to 1-11-2 overall and 1-8-1 in the GNAC.

The Wildcats started with the foot on the gas as they would create a corner kick in the first minute of play which would lead to the first of 17 total shots for CWU, 12 of those coming on frame.

"We started off real well," Head Coach Michael Farrand said. "It was good to see us start fast and aggressive."

Mackenzie Nolte (Marysville, WA, Marysville-Pilchuck ) put the Wildcats up 1-0 in the 14^th minute after CWU mustered the first six shots of the game. Nolte exposed the keeper on a one-on-one oppritunity that was blocked by the goalie and then cleaned up by the freshman forward for her fifth goal of the season.

In the 29^th minute the Bailey Martoncik (Maple Valley, WA, Tahoma ) would inflate the Wildcat lead to 2-0 with her second goal of the year. Freshman Viktoriya Vasina (Auburn, WA, Auburn Mountainview ) played a ball to Martoncik who then beat the keeper with a high shot that sailed over her outstretched arms.

The Saint's answered quickly in the 32^nd minute to cut the lead back down to one.

"We were kind of coasting there at the end of the half," Farrand said. "It was nice to see us come back in the second half and get that goal back."

Shaina Mitchell (Normandy Park, Wa, Seattle Christian ) scored her first goal of the season in the 51^st minute of the second half to give the Wildcats some insurance.

"It was one of the best goals I've seen this year," Farrand said. "She collected from 25-yards out and beat the keeper to the far post."

The Wildcats will travel to Simon Fraser University (B.C) next Thursday, Oct. 23, as the team continues the hunt for playoff seeding. The game is set to kick off at 7 p.m.

"We found some things that were missing from the other games," Farrand explained. "We got a little more creative today, and found some ways to put the ball in the net.