• Boxscore & Play-by-Play

GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. – Seattle Pacific freshman Blaine Carver forced overtime with a late goal during regulation time Monday, but Mesa State scored in the third minute of the extra session to claim a 2-1 non-conference men's soccer win at Walker Field.

“That's a game we didn't deserve to lose, but soccer is a funny game,” said third-year SPU coach Mark Collings. “The guys competed hard and kept possession of the ball really well. We created numerous chances, but we're just not quite getting it past the goalkeeper.”

The Falcons (0-3-1) lost their third straight game, including Friday's 3-0 setback at 20th-ranked Metro State that opened the current three-game road trip in Colorado.

Mesa (4-0) continued its best start in school history, secured by Jake Jobe's golden goal just over two minutes into the first overtime. Jobe headed a corner kick into the left side of the SPU goal at 92:05 to end the game.

The Mavericks got on the board first at 12:52 on a goal from Steve Shaw off a though pass from Nathan Poirier.

Carver (Soldotna, Alaska) netted the equalizer at 81:15, scoring SPU's first goal of the season. Sophomore Brandon Kuenzi (Silverton, Ore.) was credited with an assist on the play after dribbling down the right flank before serving a cross that Carver headed inside the left post.

The Falcons posted a 15-14 edge in shots, but MSC goalkeeper Chris Raines stopped six of them. SPU sophomore Zach Johnson made five saves.

“This game stings because the guys played with a lot of emotion and we felt like we had them on the ropes the entire second half,” said Collings. “We're missing opportunities that we need to finish. We felt like we could have put three or four balls away in regulation and didn't.”

Early in the game, sophomore Richie Evoy (Bend, Ore.) broke through toward the Mesa goal, but couldn't find the back of the net. Later in the opening half junior Elliot Morton (Tacoma, Wash./Bellarmine Prep) collected the ball in the Mavericks goalmouth and dropped a pass back to junior Tyler Schultz (Scottsdale, Ariz.) whose shot sailed over the crossbar.

The Falcons outshot MSC 8-7 in the first half and 7-6 in the second. But Mesa converted on the only shot of overtime for either team to earn the victory.

The SPU men conclude their four-game road trip on Wednesday at Regis University in Denver.

“Certainly we have to finish up these opportunities, but at the end of the day we gave up two goals,” Collings concluded. “Our attack could certainly help our defense. We're looking for a complete performance and that's really what we'll talk about trying to get on Wednesday.”

After that game, the Falcons return to Seattle to start Great Northwest Athletic Conference play on Monday, Sept. 20 against Western Washington. Kick-off is 7 p.m. at Interbay Stadium.


NCAA Men's Soccer
Monday, September 13, 2010
Walker Field/Grand Junction, Colo.

Mesa State 2, Seattle Pacific 1 (ot)

Scoring – 1, MSC, Steve Shaw (Nathan Poirier), 12:52. 2, SPU, Blaine Carver (Brandon Kuenzi), 81: 15. 3, MSC, Jake Jobe (Sam Dixon), 92:05.

Shots – SPU 15, MSC 14.
Saves – SPU 5 (Zach Johnson), MSC 6 (Chris Raines).
Corner kicks – SPU 7, MSC 6.
Fouls – SPU 11, MSC 13.
Offsides – SPU 2, MSC 1.
Yellow cards – SPU 1 (Brandon Kuenzi), MSC 3 (Gaye Mohamed, Sam Dixon, Steve Shaw).
Ejections -- None.
Attendance -- 763.

Records –
Seattle Pacific 0-3-1
Mesa State 4-0-0

Next game –
Seattle Pacific at Regis
Wednesday, Sept. 15, 2:30 p.m. PDT