ELLENSBURG, Wash. (Oct. 1) – The Central Washington University soccer team netted three goals on its way to a 3-0 victory over Montana State Billings in a Great Northwest Athletic Conference match.  The victory is the Wildcats fifth clean sheet of the season.  Central is now 8-2-0 overall and 3-1-0 in GNAC matches.  The Yellowjackets fall to 2-5-2 overall and 2-1-1 in the GNAC.
 
"I think today, if you look at Billings, who was unbeaten in conference play getting to us, they have certainly played solid behind the ball," CWU Head Coach Michael Farrand said.  "They played Concordia to 0-0, beat NNU at home, and they've had a nice run.  We stepped up today and made some chances."
 
Following their 4-1 win over Western Oregon on Thursday, the Wildcats kept the momentum riding high against Billings. 
 
Lexsi Manning opened the scoring in the 41^st minute.  Allie Bohnett played a cross in from the right wing and Manning chipped the ball over Lilli Delgadillo for a 1-0 Wildcat advantage.
 
The Wildcats' defense kept the Yellowjackets from generating any sort of offensive pressure in the opening 45 minutes, as Billings did not tally a shot.  Central took eight shots and four corners in the opening half.
 
"We have a great defense and when you look at who is playing in back you've got Jessica Haga and Meghan Ward returning, Allie is a four-year starter and then we have bodies we can rotate out," Farrand added.  "They have been fantastic for us."
 
Central's offense found the back of the net again in the 70^th minute.  Mackenzie Nolte sent a low service in tight that careened around the six before being blasted home by Bailey Martonick for her first goal of the season. 
 
In the 80^th minute Whitney Lowe added her second goal of the season.  Another low service across the goal mouth was parried by Delgadillo, but it ricocheted to a wide-open Lowe.
 
The Wildcats now have a dozen goal scorers on the season.  Lowe joins Keilin Farrand, Molly Mortensen, Nolte, and Kaysha Darcy as a multi-goal scorer.
 
"We work nearly every day on framing the ball out on any shot and today we finished three balls out today with nice framing," Farrand noted.  "Lexsi framed out nicely and finished.  Bailey got a good tap in, she's had two great games back to back for us.  Whit, for as hard as she works, gets a ball that she taps in today."
 
Holt made two saves en route to her fifth clean sheet of the season, lowering her goals against average to 0.71.  The freshman keeper has faced 113 shots.
 
"We've done a great job, the back line all year long has proved they are one of the best back lines," Farrand acknowledged.  "We have high expectations and when we get a little average we are hard on ourselves and play at a higher rate.  We are on uncharted territory for us right now."
 
Central Washington takes on Seattle Pacific University on Tuesday (Oct. 4) in Ellensburg at 3 p.m.  The Wildcats defeated the Falcons, 1-0, in the reverse fixture in Seattle last week.
 
"This will be three games in six days for us and we have to make sure we concentrate and get our recovery days in, Farrand finished.  "It is a rivalry game for us on Tuesday.  Arby is a great coach and SPU is a good team, it is still up to us to make sure we get a result out of the game."