By: Jamal Smith Freelancer
WOU vs. Central Washington University (CWU) – Oct. 3, 2015
The Wolves women’s soccer team got their first conference win at home on Sat., Oct. 3, 2015 over Central Washington University with a final score of 2-1.
Senior Makana Pundyke (CF) scored two second-half goals which secured the WOU’s comeback victory.
CWU took the lead after a goal in the 20th minute when the ball bounced around in the box and found its way into the back of the net.
Although the Wolves had multiple opportunities to score in the first half, they were left empty handed going into halftime.
In the second half, Western had better ball control and more energy which put pressure on CWU’s defense.
The Wolves first goal came in the 56th minute on a Brooke Steinberg (D) free kick just outside of the 18-yard box. The free kick was headed off the top of the crossbar by senior Dana Goularte (D), and after a scramble, Pundyke put the ball past CWU’s goalkeeper.
Pundyke got her second goal in the 63rd minute when a scrum in the box saw the ball fall to her from a corner kick from junior Kealakekua Makekau (CM).
Western’s head coach Steve Ancheta attributed the Wolves’ second half success to half-time adjustments. “In the second half we pressed a little bit higher which caused them a little bit of stress and it led to free kicks and penalty kicks,” Ancheta said.
The Wolves improved their overall record to 5-3-1 for the season, and 1-2-1 in GNAC conference play.
WOU vs. Concordia University (CU) – Oct. 5, 2015
The team lost 2-0 at home on Tuesday against Concordia University. The loss brings the overall record to 5-4-1 and 1-3-1 in GNAC conference play.
Concordia got their first goal in the 20th minute on a free kick at the top of the goal box. Although Western’s goalkeeper, Lindsey Mabinuori, was able to make the save, she couldn’t get both hands on the ball and a Concordia player took advantage by finding the back of the net.
In the second half, the Wolves applied the pressure and had great ball control but couldn’t conceive a goal. Western had multiple chances to score that saw the ball go just wide of the goal posts on multiple occasions.
Concordia’s second goal came in the 59th minute on a thru ball on a counter-attack.
The loss to Concordia was the second game in the Wolves’ three game home stand. The next home game is on Saturday October 10th at 11 a.m. against Seattle Pacific University before they hit road to take on Saint Martin’s University on Saturday, Oct. 17th.
