• Boxscore & Play-by-Play

BELLINGHAM, Wash. – Senior Enis Isufi scored in the 14th minute and junior Kaleb Kuehn preserved the shutout with two second-half saves Saturday as the 24th-ranked Seattle Pacific men defeated Western Washington 1-0 in a Great Northwest Athletic Conference soccer game at Orca Field.

The Falcons surpassed last season's victory total, improving to 7-1-3 and 1-1-1 in conference play. SPU finished with a 6-10-3 record in 2008.

Second-year coach Mark Collings identifies unity as one of the keys to this year's success.

“There is something special about this team and their belief system in themselves and each other. That showed tonight.”

The Falcons suffered what could have been a devastating defeat on Thursday, falling 3-2 at home to Saint Martin's after opening a two-goal lead. That was their first loss of the season.

“We talked about Thursday being one loss,” Collings explained. “It's a long season and for them to bounce back the way they did and win two days later is a true testament to who this team is.”

Isufi (Auburn, Wash./Peninsula CC) received a pass from sophomore Drew Williams (Bend, Ore.) at the top of the box. He turned and fired a low, 17-yard shot into the left side of the goal at 13:52 for his first goal of the season.

“We just played him in to his feet at the top of the box. He got a good turn, hit it and beat the keeper,” Collings explained. “It was a good shot, a good turn and a good build-up to the goal.”

Isufi nearly netted an insurance goal early in the second half. He knocked one shot off the crossbar in the 56th minute and, 20 seconds later, had an attempt carom off the right post.

Kuehn (Marysville, Wash./Marysville-Pilchuck HS) stopped two of the Vikings' three second-half shots for his fifth shutout. He denied Western's most dangerous opportunity, diving to save an eight-yard shot by Tyler Bjork in the 48th minute.

“Kaleb Kuehn didn't have to come up with too many saves tonight, but he did come up with a big one when we needed him to,” said Collings.

Kuehn's limited activity was a tribute to the SPU defense that rebounded after allowing its first multiple-goal game on Thursday.

“Our back four, starting with Jon (Pearman) and Elliot (Morton) in the center and then Caleb (Nyone) and Corey McGuire, were fantastic tonight,” Collings said. “They really did a great job of slowing down some very talented attacking players."

Goalkeeper Cameron Copps-Tilley was credited with three saves for WWU, which was outshot by a 14-7 margin.

The Vikings dropped to 4-7-0 overall and 1-2-0 in GNAC contests.

“The boys really came out and played well today. They worked hard, they played for each other and they got a good result against a very good Western team,” Collings said. “Western has been a little bit unlucky with their results, but they are a very good soccer team.”

The Seattle Pacific men remain on the road for their next three games, beginning on Saturday, Oct. 10 at Northwest Nazarene.
 
NCAA Men's Soccer
Saturday, October 3, 2009
Orca Field/Bellingham, Wash.
 
Seattle Pacific 1, Western Washington 0
 
Scoring -- 1, SPU, Enis Isufi (Drew Williams), 13:52.
 
Shots – SPU 14, WWU 7.
Saves – SPU 2 (Kaleb Kuehn), WWU 3 (Cameron Copps-Tilley).
Corner kicks – SPU 6, WWU 3.
Fouls – SPU 12, WWU 13.
Offsides – SPU 1, WWU 1.
Attendance -- 482.
 
Records --
Seattle Pacific 7-1-3, 1-1-1 GNAC
Western Washington 4-7-0,  1-2-0 GNAC
 
Next game --
Seattle Pacific at Northwest Nazarene, Saturday, Oct. 10, 3:00 p.m.