• Boxscore & Play-by-Play

MONMOUTH, Ore. – Two goals by Kellie Zakrzewski on Saturday brought Seattle Pacific within reach of its first two team goals.

Zakrzewski scored a pair of first-half goals, starting the 12th-ranked SPU women on their way to a 3-0 win over Western Oregon in a Great Northwest Athletic Conference contest at WOU Soccer Field.

The Falcons (13-2) improved to 10-1 in league play. They can capture their third consecutive GNAC championship with a win in any of their final three games.

SPU could clinch the title in their next outing, on Thursday at Northwest Nazarene. A win in Nampa, Idaho would also secure the league's automatic berth to the NCAA Division II playoffs.

"Winning the conference title is very important to our program," said Chuck Sekyra, who directed SPU to six conference crowns in his previous eight seasons.

"We want to dominate our league, that's our first goal. Our second goal is to get to the NCAA Tournament and those could both happen in the same day on Thursday."

A sophomore forward, Zakrzewski (Cheney, Wash./Cheney HS) posted the third multi-goal performance in her last five games. She also tallied two goals against Western Washington (Oct. 15) and Central Washington (Oct. 7).

On Saturday, Zakrzewski first found the goal at 27:05, a score that was set up by the team-leading eighth assist from senior Kelsey Jenkins (Kent, Wash./Kentwood HS). A quick give-and-go pass set up a one-on-one situation with the WOU goalkeeper and Zakrzewski capitalized by slipping the ball inside the left post.

An unassisted goal at 37:26 was Zakrzewski's eighth, tying her with Megan Lindsay for the team lead. She gathered a loose ball in the goalmouth and pushed it in from six yards out.

"Kellie has found her rhythm out there and it's really fun to watch. She is the kind of player who, when she gets into a rhythm, is unstoppable," said Sekyra. "That's why you see not just one goal, but she gets a couple goals in a game. She's feeling good, she's finding the ball and being really aggressive."

Sophomore Mackenzie Laird (Danville, Calif.) got the lone second-half goal. She first-timed a curving, 17-yard shot into the upper right corner at 67:37 for her third score of the season. Senior Brandi Hamre (Bremerton, Wash./Central Kitsap) was credited with an assist on the goal.

While the offense usually garners the headlines, Sekyra praised the players on the other side of the field for their efforts this week, including Thursday's 2-0 win at Saint Martin's.

"The one thing that sticks out to me this week is that we defended both games great. Our goalkeeping was sound and our back line was fantastic."

Senior Brooke Yokers (Kent, Wash./Kentridge) registered her fourth consecutive shutout. She recorded three of her four saves in the first half for the Falcons, who blanked their 10th opponent.

Brittney Rigtrup had seven saves for the Wolves, who were outshot 17-10. WOU (5-7-3) saw its league record fall to 4-5-2.

The SPU women remain on the road for two games next week, on Thursday at Northwest Nazarene and next Saturday at Montana State Billings. They conclude the season at home on Nov. 5 at 1 p.m. against Central Washington.


NCAA WOMEN'S SOCCER
Saturday, Oct. 22, 2011
WOU Soccer Field/Monmouth, Ore.

(#12) Seattle Pacific 3, at Western Oregon 0

Scoring – 1, SPU, Kellie Zakrzewski (Kelsey Jenkins), 27:05; 2, SPU, Zakrzewski, 37:26; 3, SPU, Mackenzie Laird (Brandi Hamre), 67:37.

Shots – SPU 17, WOU 10.
Saves – SPU 4 (Brooke Yokers), WOU 7 (Brittney Rigtrup).
Corner kicks – SF 7, WOU 2.
Fouls – SPU 3, WOU 7.
Offsides – SPU 0, WOU 0.
Ejections – None.
Attendance – 168.

Records
Seattle Pacific 13-2-0,  10-1-0 GNAC
Western Oregon 5-7-3,  4-5-2 GNAC

Next game
Seattle Pacific at Northwest Nazarene
Thursday, Oct. 27, 2 p.m., Nampa, Idaho