ELLENSBURG, Wash. - The No. 6 University of California San Diego women's soccer team overturned an early deficit and posted a much-needed 2-1 overtime win at Central Washington to round out non-conference play Friday at CWU Soccer Field.

In breaking a two-game slide, UC San Diego improved to 4-2. Central Washington dropped its first of a remarkable start to the campaign, now at 5-1. The Wildcats, a second straight Triton opponent from the Great Northwest Athletic Conference, were receiving votes just outside of the national top 25 in this Tuesday's poll.

Knotted at 1-1 early in the first overtime period, Central Washington missed a golden opportunity to end it thanks to UCSD goalie Itzel Gonzalez, as the fifth-year senior denied Mackenzie Nolte, who got free on the right diagonal inside the box.

Within moments, striker Katie O'Laughlin (Carlsbad/Pacific Ridge School) made a dashing run with the ball down the left flank, past a couple of Wildcat defenders, leading to a blocked shot in the middle by fellow junior Elisa Martinez(El Cajon/Francis Parker School).

The action bounced out to the other side, and junior winger Jordyn McNutt (San Diego/University City HS) provided an accurate cross from the right that O'Laughlin headed in at the far post for her league-best sixth goal and a 2-1 triumph.

The home side grabbed the 1-0 advantage in just the sixth minute. A corner kick by Keilin Farrand from the left appeared to be cleared off the line by senior center back and co-captain Meghan Berry. Reilly Retz was first to the rebound, putting her shot high into the net from around the penalty spot. It turned out, however, that the goal had been given by the assistant referee to Farrand on the corner, as it was judged to have crossed the line.

UC San Diego equalized heading into halftime, in the 39th minute. Freshman CWU goalkeeper Emily Holt was whistled for a foul on Triton freshman Roni Merrill. Berry stepped up and buried the penalty kick for the first goal of her three-year UCSD career.

UCSD had several other set-piece opportunities throughout the first frame, from corner kicks and free kicks, with some quality lacking in those instances.

The Wildcats found a great chance to retake the lead early in the second, again from a Farrand corner kick. The ball was shot in by Kaysha Darcy and destined for the net, but junior Taylor Ramos (San Diego/Coronado HS), who had started the second half in central midfield, got down to save a sure goal.

Sophomore forward Mary Reilly (Chula Vista/Hilltop HS) triggered a difficult save by Holt in the 65th minute, with a shot from the right diagonal that the Wildcat net-minder was just able to tip over the bar at the near post for a corner kick.

The Tritons earned a second penalty kick via hand ball in the 74th. This time, however, Reilly took the chance, and had it saved by Holt to keep the score even.

Gonzalez had two saves in goal for UCSD, none bigger perhaps for the season thus far than the second one. Holt made eight stops. The Tritons held a commanding 22-6 advantage in shots taken.

Freshman Natalie Saddic (San Diego/Torrey Pines HS), in her first season as a Triton after redshirting at UC Davis a year ago, earned her first collegiate start as the holding central midfielder.

UC San Diego flies home later Friday, and wraps up a three-game road stretch at city rival Cal State San Marcos in its California Collegiate Athletic Association opener on Wednesday afternoon, Sept. 21. Kickoff in The Cage is set for 12:30 p.m.

Triton Notes: The match marked UCSD's first overtime contest of 2016 ... The Tritons remain perfect in the all-time series, 7-0, and have out-scored CWU, 31-3 ... UCSD is 4-0 in Ellensburg with a 12-1 scoring ledger ... The previous meeting went 6-1 in favor of the Tritons in the 2012 season opener in La Jolla ... The last matchup in Ellensburg came on Aug. 28, 2008 ... Today's opening goal was CWU's first ever at home over UCSD, after just over 275 shutout minutes there.

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