December 4, 2008
TAMPA, Fla. -- Sophomore forward
Amanda Johnson scored two goals and assisted on the third Thursday to send fourth-ranked Seattle Pacific into the championship game of the NCAA Division II women's soccer tournament with a 3-1 semifinal victory over No. 12 Metro State at Pepin Stadium.
SPU (21-1-2) remains in Tampa to meet No. 2 West Florida (24-0-1) in Saturday's championship game at 12:30 p.m. Pacific Time (3:30 p.m. Eastern). The Argonauts are the nation's only undefeated team. They advanced to the title contest by virtue of a 4-0 win over No. 21 Saint Rose.
The championship game airs live on CBS College Sports, a cable channel formerly called CSTV.
The Falcons will be making their second championship game appearance. They suffered a 2-1 overtime setback against Nebraska-Omaha in 2005. SPU is participating in the Final Four for the third time in the last four years.
Johnson (Duvall, Wash./Cedarcrest) opened the scoring just over one minute into Thursday's game, giving SPU a 1-0 lead it would carry into halftime.
Coach
Chuck Sekyra has directed the Falcons into the NCAA Tournament in each of his six seasons, including three Final Four berths. He expected his experienced team to start strong.
“This is how it should go. This is our third time here in four years, we should come out confident,” he explained. “We knew what to expect. I've got a very intelligent team and they've learned that you have to get after it from the first minute.”
The Falcons pressed into the Metro State side of the field from the opening kickoff and converted on their second surge at the goal. Senior
Meredith Teague (Redmond, Wash./Bellevue Christian) served a cross from the right flank to the far post. Johnson's header slipped inside the left post at 1:13 on the first shot by either team.
The second-minute goal stopped a five-game scoring drought for Johnson, who ranks second on the team with 11 goals. She entered the semifinal scoreless in postseason play and last tallied a goal on Nov. 1.
“It was amazing,” Johnson described of her feelings after netting the early goal. “Getting a goal right away is incredibly important. It just sends a message to the other team that we are here to play. Meredith did a great job getting that ball off and I was able to put it in.”
That goal held up until early in the second half when the Roadrunners scored the equalizer. Jen Thomas headed in a cross from Madison McQuilliams at 54:40.
SPU answered 38 seconds later on Johnson's second goal. She was at the right post and tapped in a pass from junior
Jocelyn Charette at 55:18.
Charette distributed the game-winning assist in each of the last three victories, including the Falcons 1-0 double-overtime, third round win over Western Washington and a 1-0 quarterfinal triumph at Truman State.
Charette found the net herself at 58:33 on a hard shot from 15 yards out off a brilliant flick from Johnson.
A product of Tacoma's Curtis High School, Charette returned to the venue where she played home games as a freshman for the University of Tampa. She helped Tampa to the 2006 Final Four, scoring 14 of her 21 goals at Pepin Stadium.
“This is one of my favorite stadiums. I feel at home here,” exclaimed Charette. “I'm really excited to be back and in the finals.”
Charette transferred to SPU prior to last season and was named the 2007 Great Northwest Athletic Conference newcomer of the year.
The Falcons extended their unbeaten streak to 16 games. They have outscored opponents by a combined 51-6 margin during that span.
Sophomore
Maddie Dickinson (Vancouver, Wash./Skyview) posted her third consecutive playoff win in goal for SPU. She recorded four of her five saves in the second half when Metro had a 9-5 shot advantage.
With a slim 16-13 edge, the Roadruners became the first team this season to out shoot SPU. The Falcons had the more dangerous chances as seven of their attempts were on frame compared to six for MSC.
Metro State's Becca Maloney registered all four of her saves during the opening half. The Roadrunners were vying for their third national championship after winning women's soccer titles in 2004 and 2006.
NCAA Division II Women's Soccer Tournament
Semifinal Game
Thursday, December 4, 2008
Pepin Stadium; Tampa, Fla.
(#4) Seattle Pacific 3, (#12) Metro State 1
Scoring -- 1, SPU,
Amanda Johnson (
Meredith Teague), 1:13. 2, MSC, Jen Thomas (Madison McQuilliams), 54:40. 3, SPU,
Amanda Johnson (
Jocelyn Charette), 55:18. 4, SPU,
Jocelyn Charette (
Amanda Johnson), 58:33.
Shots – SPU 13, MSC 16.
Saves – SPU 5 (
Maddie Dickinson), MSC 4 (Becca Maloney).
Corner kicks – SPU 2, MSC 4.
Fouls – SPU 11, MSC 12.
Offsides – SPU 1, MSC 0.
Attendance – 193.
Records --
Seattle Pacific 21-1-2
Metro State 20-2-3
