Box Score                     • Final Stats

ELLENSBURG, Wash. – Senior defender Tarah Duty netted the lone goal in the 13th minute Thursday and the Central Washington women hung on for a 1-0 Great Northwest Athletic Conference win over visiting Seattle Pacific at CWU Soccer Field.
 
The Falcons (8-3) saw their league mark fall to 5-2. That is the same GNAC record sported by Central (6-4), which moved into a second-place tie with SPU.
 
Duty scored at 12:52 with her first goal of the season and just the tally of her career. After receiving a pass from Katlyn Sargent, Duty lofted the ball toward the goal from 25 yards out. Carried by a strong wind, the high ball caromed off the upper right post before bouncing behind goalkeeper Natalie Harold and into the goal.
 
Just before the Wildcats scored, SPU had a chance of its own, but a goal was waived off due to an offside call.
 
"They got the wind-aided cross goal, which stinks. And we had a goal called back," Falcons coach Chuck Sekyra said. "But I think more than anything that concerned me was we just didn't have the overall energy that I'm used to see happening.
 
"We did create some chances and put some pressure on, in the second half especially. But we have to play with that level of intensity for 90 minutes, then I think we'll be great."
 
The Falcons increased their intensity in the second half, outshooting the hosts 7-5 after intermission and compiling a 6-0 advantage in corner kicks.
 
SPU's final try at an equalizer came with 4:34 left to play. A corner kick by Alexa Diaz was headed wide right of the Wildcats goal by Kaylie Winston.
 
Both teams were credited 14 shots, but CWU put six directly on goal. The Falcons managed just two accurate attempts and were shutout for the first time this season.
 
"I thought we were a step slow a little bit today," said Sekyra, who commended the Wildcats effort. "That team brought a lot of energy and was in it from the get-go."
 
Senior goalkeeper Harold made five saves for SPU. Her Wildcats counterpart, Amanda White, stopped two shots.
 
The Falcons return home to host undefeated and second-ranked Western Washington on Saturday at 7 p.m. That is the nightcap of a soccer doubleheader with the SPU men, who entertain Saint Martin's at 4:30 p.m.
 
"We're back at it on Saturday with a great opportunity to play against Western and hope we can bring a level of energy together that makes a difference," said Sekyra.
 
"They're a great team, they work hard and they believe in what they're doing. And we've got to believe in what we do well, which are some really great things. We have to come to that game believing that our energy level and cohesiveness and playing possession soccer will make a difference."
 
 
NCAA WOMEN'S SOCCER
Thursday, October 10, 2013
CWU Soccer Field / Ellensburg, Wash.
 
at Central Washington 1, Seattle Pacific 0
 
Scoring – 1, CWU, Tarah Duty (Katlyn Sargent), 12:52.
 
Shots – SPU 14, CWU 14.
Saves – SPU 5 (Natalie Harold), CWU 2 (Amanda White).
Corner Kicks – SPU 9, CWU 1.
Fouls – SPU 4, CWU 10.
Offsides – SPU 2, CWU 2.
 
Records
Seattle Pacific 8-3-0, 5-2-0 GNAC
Central Washington 6-4-0, 5-2-0 GNAC
 
Next game
(#2) Western Washington at Seattle Pacific
Saturday, Oct. 12, 7:00 p.m.
Interbay Stadium / Seattle, Wash.