September 3, 2009

• Boxscore & Play-by-Play
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SEATTLE -- Freshman Hannah Masson scored her second and third goals of the season, and Taylor Lundquist bounced in a 50-yard free kick as top-ranked Seattle Pacific coasted to a 3-0 non-conference women's soccer victory against Humboldt State on Thursday night at Interbay Stadium.

The defending NCAA Division II champions kept their record (3-0) and their goals-against average spotless.

The Falcons have posted three straight shutouts to start the season, the last two of them by junior goalkeeper Maddie Dickinson (Vancouver, Wash./Skyview HS). Dickinson was called upon to make just two saves on Thursday as SPU had a 18-5 advantage in shots against the Lumberjacks (1-1).

Seventh-year SPU coach Chuck Sekyra had nothing but praise for his team's stingy defense, that has yet to surrender a goal in 270 minutes of play this season.

“Our defense was rock solid. We had great goalkeeping and our starting back four was good. I thought that everyone who went in the game defensively played well.”

The Falcons opened the scoring at 18:28. Lundquist (San Jose, Calif.), a freshman defender, attempted a free kick 10 yards from the midfield stripe in the offensive half. She lofted the kick toward the box, and Lumberjacks goalkeeper Kelly Sandberg came off her line to play it. The ball bounced in front of and over Sandberg, bounced again, and rolled into the goal.

Masson (Meridian, Idaho) made it 2-0 at 27:53 when senior forward Charette (Lakewood, Wash./Curtis HS) slipped a cross to her from the left side, and Masson drilled it into the back right corner from 10 yards out. Charette's assist was her first of the season. She led the Falcons last year with 15 assists.

Masson capped the scoring when she punched one in from the left side of the box about 10 yards up from the goal at 72:44. That was her third goal of the season, including a game-winning tally in the 87th minute of Saturday's 1-0 win over San Francisco State. Masson's three goals came on just six shots this season.

“It was great to have Hannah Masson again find the ball around the net and finish things,” Sekyra said. “Hannah is good around the goal and we've got to figure out a way to get her closer to the goal.”

The multiple-goal game was the first of the season for the Falcons, who posted 1-0 victories against Cal State Monterey Bay and San Francisco State in their first two games.

“It was nice to get three goals. It was good to dominate and get another shutout,” said Sekyra, who was not completely satisfied with the Falcons' performance.

“I felt we were out of sorts a little bit and just maybe not on the same page at times. It's always nice when a team like this can maybe not be as sharp as we've been in the past and still come away with a 3-0 win. That says a lot about us.”

Sandberg limited the damage with seven saves for Humboldt. She faced constant pressure that included 11 SPU corner kicks. The Lumberjacks did not attempt a corner kick.

Seattle Pacific now leads the all-time series against Humboldt State, 9-1-1.

The Falcons conclude a season-opening four-game homestand on Saturday at 1 p.m. against Cal State East Bay.
 

NCAA Women's Soccer
Thursday, September 3, 2009
Interbay Stadium/Seattle, Wash.

(#1) Seattle Pacific 3, Humboldt State 0

Scoring -- 1, SPU, Taylor Lundquist (direct free kick), 18:28. 2, SPU, Hannah Masson (Jocelyn Charette), 27:53. 3, SPU, Hannah Masson (Brandi Hamre) 72:44.

Shots – HSU 5, SPU 17.
Saves -- HSU 7 (Kelly Sandberg), SPU 2 (Maddie Dickinson).
Corner kicks – HSU 0, SPU 11.
Fouls – HSU 11, SPU 7.
Offsides – HSU 0, SPU 1.
Attendance -- 383.

Records
Seattle Pacific 3-0-0
Humboldt State 1-1-0

Next game
Cal State East Bay at Seattle Pacific, Saturday, Sept. 5, Interbay Stadium, 1 p.m.