September 11, 2009
SEATTLE – On a Friday night when
Jocelyn Charette netted a hat trick, most of the post-game praise was for the defense.
The senior tallied three goals for the top-ranked Seattle Pacific women who established a new school record for scoreless defensive minutes in a 3-0 non-conference soccer win over Grand Canyon on Friday at Interbay Stadium.
Charette (Lakewood, Wash./Curtis HS) punched in two first-half goals, in the fourth and 34th minutes. She completed her second career hat trick, with an unassisted tally in the 60th minute.
The defending NCAA Division II champion Falcons (6-0) have not surrendered an opposing goal during their last 683-minutes, 7-seconds, including all 540 minutes this season. They eclipsed the school's previous scoreless standard of 610:13 compiled during the 2004 season.
“That's exciting and I'm very proud of that,” Coach
Chuck Sekyra said of the defensive record. “Our whole team's commitment to defending is fantastic. When you are committed to defending, that means you have a hard working team who does the little things. That's exactly who were are.”
Senior goalkeeper
Jesslyn Rahm Kellerman (Eugene, Ore.) was required to make just one save en route to her third shutout.
SPU has not allowed a goal since the 55th minute of its Dec. 4, 2008 NCAA semifinal game, a 3-1 win over Metro State. The Falcons blanked West Florida for nearly 108 scoreless minutes in the 1-0 double-overtime championship victory on Dec. 6.
When the streak started at the end of last season, the Falcons featured a veteran corps of defenders. The quartet, including three seniors, boasted a combined 221 career starts on the SPU back line.
This year's group, including freshmen
Andrea Chan (Vancouver, Wash./Central Catholic HS),
Taylor Lundquist (San Jose, Calif.) and
Taylor Sawyer (Gig Harbor, Wash./North Mason HS), had no collegiate starting experience before this season.
“The back line is playing like a bunch of seniors,” Sekyra said.
No opponent has scored against the SPU women in six games this season, matching the school's longest single-season scoreless streak. The 2003 and 2004 teams blanked opponents for similar six-game stretches.
The team's faith in the young defenders has been rewarded, according to Charette.
“It's awesome to know that we have so much confidence in our freshmen. They've stepped up big time. I really admire that and it makes me want to work that much harder knowing that they are giving it their all so I know that I must give it may all too.”
Charette certainly gave it her all on Friday. She recorded the 12th hat trick in SPU women's soccer history.
“As long as we win, it doesn't matter who puts it in the back of the net it gets me just as excited as me personally scoring the goal,” said Charette.
Sophomore
Karen Hosler (Portland Ore.) set up the first goal, serving a looping 35-yard ball toward the six-yard box. GCU goalkeeper Mileena Buchei leaped but was unable to grab the ball as Charette tried for a header. The ball fell to the ground in front of the goalmouth and Charette slid it into the net at 3:46.
The second goal was created by two quick passes. Senior
Janae Godoy (Yakima, Wash./West Valley HS) flipped the ball from the center of the box to left side. Freshman
Megan Lindsay (Spokane, Wash./Gonzaga Prep HS) quickly headed it back to the center to be finished by a 10-yard strike at 33:18.
Charette created the final goal herself, dribbling 25 yards to the top of the box before unleashing a blast into the lower right side of the goal at 59:30.
“Jocelyn is a great player who is just getting into a new position. She was fantastic running at people and being aggressive,” Sekyra said. “That's her game and I think you are going to see a pretty fun
Jocelyn Charette running at people from here on out.”
SPU extended its winning streak to 17 games and has not lost in its last 23 outings.
The three-goal outburst was a welcome sight for the Falcons, who won four games by matching 1-0 scores. SPU had attempted 88 shots entering Friday's game, but had just seven goals to show for it.
“We know that we are good enough to put teams away by a lot of goals,” Charette explained. “It just wasn't happening. But we knew that it would and this is a great start for us to that end. We just never gave up.”
The Antelopes (3-1) suffered their first loss of the season.
Buchei was credited with five saves for GCU, which was outshot by a 19-5 margin.
The Falcons open Great Northwest Athletic Conference play on Sept. 17 at Western Oregon. Their next home game is Sept. 19 at 7 p.m. against Saint Martin's.
NCAA Women's Soccer
Friday, September 11, 2009
Interbay Stadium/Seattle, Wash.
(#1) Seattle Pacific 3, Grand Canyon 0
Scoring -- 1, SPU,
Jocelyn Charette (
Karen Hosler), 3:46. 2, SPU, Charette (
Janae Godoy,
Megan Lindsay), 33:18. 3, SPU, Charette, 59:30.
Shots – GCU 5, SPU 19.
Saves – GCU 5 (Mileena Buchei), SPU 1 (
Jesslyn Rahm Kellerman).
Corner kicks – GCU 1, SPU 6.
Fouls – GCU 12, SPU 14.
Offsides – GCU 1, SPU 3.
Attendance -- 317.
Records
Seattle Pacific 6-0-0
Grand Canyon 3-1-0
Next game
#1 Seattle Pacific at Western Oregon
Thursday, Sept. 17th, 4:00 p.m.
