ELLENSBURG, Wash. – It was a tale of two halves Thursday afternoon for the Crusaders.

Central Washington won the first half, erupting for three goals in 2 minutes, 13 seconds, before the Northwest Nazarene women's soccer team took control in the second half.

Unfortunately, the second-half surge by NNU wasn't enough as the host Wildcats notched a 4-1 win in Great Northwest Athletic Conference action.

"I felt like I watched two different games today," said NNU coach Mary Trigg.

"Credit to them, we gave them space and time and they punished for us," Trigg added of the first half, adding of the second half, "they had their starters in the second half, they went at us."

And the Crusaders (1-4-1 overall, 0-2 1 GNAC) won the half as Lexi Fesenbek scored off an assist from Sarah Jenkins in the 75^th minute.

The Crusaders nearly closed to 4-2 down late, but had a ball on the goal-line ruled no goal by the officials.

Central Washington's Allie Bohnett scored off one of three assists by Tarah Duty with 5:17 gone off the clock, giving the Wildcats (3-3-0, 2-1-0) an early lead.

Savanna Moorehouse then scored at the 23:27 mark and 1:15 later Lauren Duty scored, making it 3-0.

Moorehouse then made it 4-0 just 58 seconds later, sending the Crusaders to halftime down 4-0.

Argia Phillips made five saves in goal as the Wildcats outshot NNU 20-11, but that edge came in the first half when CWU outshot NNU 13-3.

Along with the goal by Fesenbek and the solid second half, Trigg also highlighted the play of freshman Rebekah Kelley who "stepped up for us."

Trigg added that outside back Kellynn McDaniel pushed forward well in the second half, helping the Crusader attack as NNU put the pressure on the Wildcats, outshooting CWU, 8-7, in the final 45 minutes.

The Crusaders continue their current road-trip with a game at No. 25 Seattle Pacific on Saturday