MONMOUTH, Ore. – In their final home game of the 2019 regular season, the Western Oregon women's soccer team disposed of the Central Washington Wildcats for a 3-1 win at WOU Soccer Field on Saturday.
 
Saturday's match represented the final home game for six WOU seniors as Alex Qualls, Kaili Brundage, Kaitlin Poe, Jacky Beristain, Isabelle Creighton and Selene Konyn played their final game at WOU Soccer Field. It would also be just the second time during their NCAA era that the Wolves have reached double figures in wins, claiming their 10^th of the year and posting their highest win total since the 2001 campaign.

"I've never had this experience before, winning with a group like this," said Jacky Beristain. "It's great to have this team with me on my way out of my collegiate career."

"We made a complete 180 from where we've been the last couple of years," said Selene Konyn of the Wolves' transformation this season. "We never thought this could happen. We thought our four years were going to be the same results drawn out, but this has been an amazing senior season that we have worked very hard for."
 
The game started out with a flurry of offense, seeing two goals scored inside of the first three minutes. Kylee Dillon delivered for Central Washington (8-7-1, 6-5-1 GNAC) to give the Wildcats a brief lead. On a corner kick from the right side, Sophia Keenan was able to feed Dillon on the near side of the net for a one-timer off the shin.
 
That lead lasted just 14 seconds for the Wildcats as Western Oregon (10-5-3, 7-3-2 GNAC) responded on the ensuing possession. Alyssa Tomasini took her dribble to the left side of the box and crossed over keeper Emily Thompson to find the right side of the net for her first of two goals on the day.
 
The junior forward connected again later in the first half, putting her own corner kick in from the right side. The two-goal game was the third of the season for Tomasini and the second she has had in her last three appearances. She finishes the regular season with a team-leading nine goals and 25 points. The two goals on Saturday vaults her into a tie for the second-most goals in a single season in WOU's NCAA-era history, falling one shy of a single-season record.

"It's great to see how much we've grown since we came in as freshmen," said Kaitlin Poe. "Being able to cap our college experience with a season like this is incredible."

"I don't think anyone in the GNAC expected us to come out and be this good," added Kaili Brundage. "It makes it more fun to surprise people every week."
 
"Firstly, congratulations to our seniors on a great year and great game today," said Western Oregon head coach Kacey Bingham. "We knew this was going to be a big game going into playoffs. We gave up an early goal but responded right away to get back in it. I was really proud of the details we took care of today."
 
Leading 2-1 coming out of the half, Western put the game away with their final goal of the day 20 minutes into the period. Isabelle Creighton took a run down the right side of the field, five yards outside of the box. Her cross found Kennedy Clay on the near post to head it in for her first goal of the season. With Clay picking up her first score, nine different Wolves have been able to net a goal in 2019.
 
Western out-shot Central 10-8 in the game, including posting eight shots on goal. Senior Kaili Brundage recorded two shots in the game, one coming on target. Keeper Alex Qualls made three saves to earn the win.
 
"We're always pushing the girls to improve from game to game," added Bingham. "Alyssa had a standout performance today. And, as normal, our back line was solid. A 10-win season is a huge accomplishment and I am so proud of this team."
 
Not only did the 10 wins on the year for the Wolves climb into the record books but also their team total in points (83), goals (29) and assists (25), not having posted numbers like that in any of those categories since 2003.
 
Western Oregon finishes the regular season with 23 points, earning the third seed in the Great Northwest Athletic Conference Championships. They will take on No. 2 Seattle Pacific on Thursday, Nov. 14, in the first round of the four-team conference championships. Live stats and video will be available at GNAC.tv.