• Boxscore & Play-by-Play

SEATTLE – Kristin Maris scored on a counter-attack in the 89th minute Thursday as Western Washington dealt the fifth-ranked Seattle Pacific women's soccer team its first loss, a 1-0 decision at Interbay Stadium.

The Falcons (7-1-1) moved to 4-1 in Great Northwest Athletic Conference Play, dropping into a first-place tie with the Vikings (7-1-1).

WWU compiled a 3-1-2 record during the last three seasons against the Falcons, who have a 44-2-3 mark against everyone else during that span.

The loss snapped SPU's 45-game home unbeaten streak. The Falcons had gone exactly four years without a loss at Interbay Stadium, posting a 42-0-3 record since a 1-0 setback against Seattle University on Sept. 30, 2006



Vikings senior Claire Morgan set up the game-winning goal after stealing the ball from an SPU defender 35 yards from the goal. She dribbled toward the box and slipped a pass to Maris, who sent a 15-yard strike across the goal and into the upper left corner at 88:03.

The ball barely got past SPU senior goalkeeper Maddie Dickinson, who surrendered just her third goal in 849 minutes this season. Dickinson (Vancouver, Wash./Skyview HS) was credited with four saves.

“We had our chances to put the game away and then we kind of make a mistake and they capitalized on it,” said SPU coach Chuck Sekyra. “That's a tough way to go. You let them hang around and this is what happens.”

WWU's Jamie Arthurs stopped eight shots en route to her sixth shutout.

SPU registered a 17-11 shot advantage and had the more dangerous chances with eight attempts directly on goal to just five for the Vikings.

In the 35th minute Falcons sophomore Megan Lindsay blasted a 15-yard shot from a sharp left angle that was parried away by Arthurs. The rebound went to SPU's Brandi Hamre who sent a shot over the crossbar.

Lindsay had another great chance in the second half. Her powerful header of Kendall Thoreson's corner kick was deflected by Arthurs before the Falcons Kelsey Jenkins gathered the ball and sent a putback off the right post in the 66th minute.

In the 79th minute, Lindsay broke free on the left side but Arthurs came off her line to smother the attempt.

Lindsay (Spokane, Wash./Gonzaga Prep) amassed seven shots and six of them were on frame.

“Megan Lindsay was great tonight,” Sekyra exclaimed. “Megan has done a great job of getting the ball down and going at people and trying to create opportunities. I love that about her.”

Prior to their goal, the Vikings best opportunity came in the 70th minute when Justina MacDowell found the ball during a goalmouth scramble, but her shot was pushed off the line by Dickinson. Joanna Houplin collected the carom, but put a shot over the top of the SPU goal.

The Falcons remain at home to host Simon Fraser on Saturday at 7 p.m.

Sekyra already has an idea of how he wants his team to perform differently on Saturday.

“We need to bounce back and play with more purpose. We need to play with more urgency and put teams away and not let them hang around.”


NCAA WOMEN'S SOCCER
Thursday, Sept. 30, 2010
Interbay Stadium/Seattle, Wash.

Western Washington 1, (#5) Seattle Pacific 0

Scoring – 1, WWU, Kristin Maris (Claire Morgan), 88:03.

Shots – WWU 11, SPU 17.
Saves – WWU 8 (Jamie Arthurs), SPU 4 (Maddie Dickinson).
Corner Kicks – WWU 3, SPU 5.
Fouls – WWU 8, SPU 8.
Offsides – WWU 0, SPU 2.
Yellow Cards – None.
Ejections – None.
Attendance – 405.

Records --
Seattle Pacific 7-1-1, 4-1-0 GNAC
Western Washington 7-1-1, 4-1-0 GNAC

Next game --
Simon Fraser at (#5) Seattle Pacific
Saturday, Oct. 2; Seattle, Wash., 7:00 p.m. PDT