* Boxscore & Play-by-Play

ELLENSBURG, Wash. – Coach Chuck Sekyra claims his halftime speech wasn't anything unique. But whatever he said sparked the Seattle Pacific women to a sensational second-half surge.

The 15th-ranked Falcons erupted for three goals inside the opening five minutes of the second half Friday, capped by Kellie Zakrzewski's second score, to push past Central Washington in a Great Northwest Athletic Conference encounter at CWU Soccer Field.

A sophomore forward, Zakrzewski (Cheney, Wash./Cheney HS) opened the scoring at 26:23 on a 15-yard shot off a pass from Megan Lindsay (Spokane, Wash./Gonzaga Prep). But the Wildcats equalized just before halftime when Amy Pate poked the ball in at 42:31 after a goalmouth scramble.

Sekyra recalled his halftime rhetoric.

“I looked right at the team and I said 'Okay, maybe we want to be a goal up and it's 1-1, but we spent the whole first half knowing that we can score a bunch of goals on these guys and now we've got to do it.' And they did it.”

SPU struck quickly to start the second half, getting a goal from freshman Riley Dopps (Port Orchard, Wash./South Kitsap HS) after just 31 seconds ticked off the clock. Zakrzewski split the defense and found Dopps 10 yards from the post with only the goalkeeper to beat for her first collegiate goal.

Sophomore Josie Graybeal (Gig Harbor, Wash./Gig Harbor HS) netted an unassisted tally at 49:12 and Zakrzewski followed 41 seconds later with a 10-yard blast that deflected off a defender on its way into the goal.

The three goal outburst in 4-minutes, 22-seconds is believed to be a school record.

Lindsay made it four goals in 12:41, providing a 5-1 cushion with her team-leading fifth goal. The junior forward found the back of the net at 58:12 after a give-and-go from Kelsey Jenkins (Kent, Wash./Kentwood HS) set her up for an 11-yard strike.

The 2010 GNAC Freshman of the Year, Zakrzewski returned to the starting lineup Friday for just the second time this season. She compiled two goals and an assist while Lindsay contributed a goal and assist.

“The Megan and Kellie Z Show is back, right? That's what I want. It was fun,” Sekyra exclaimed. “When Kellie and Megan are both forcing the issue, they're both trying to get to goal themselves and look for each other. That's what it's all about. Those two were in a fun rhythm today and they were unstoppable, absolutely unstoppable.”

CWU got its second goal at 80:48 on a 20-yard shot that was assisted by Pate.

SPU (9-2) improved to 6-1 in GNAC play while Central (5-3-3) dropped to 4-2-1.

Falcons goalkeeper Natalie Harold (Vancouver, Wash./Heritage HS) was credited with one save before being replaced in the 65th minute by Brooke Yokers (Kent, Wash./Kentridge HS), who stopped three shots.

Starter Kori Butterfield made five saves and Kayla Lipston added one for the Wildcats, who were outshot 22-13.

The Seattle Pacific women return home for two games next week at Interbay Stadium. They host Simon Fraser on Thursday at 7 p.m. and Western Washington on Saturday at 1 p.m.

The Falcons are pressing toward their ninth consecutive NCAA Division II Tournament berth and a stellar closing stretch could put them in position to host playoff games. They embark on the second swing through the conference slate next week.

“I told the team this week that it's an eight-game season, so this is win No. 1,” said Sekyra. “Game No. 2 of our eight-game season is Thursday. It's just one game at a time and we've got to take all eight.”


NCAA WOMEN'S SOCCER
Friday, Oct. 7, 2011
CWU Soccer Field/Ellensburg, Wash.

(#15) Seattle Pacific 5, at Central Washington 2

Scoring – 1, SPU, Kellie Zakrzewski (Megan Lindsay), 26:23; 2, CWU, Amy Pate, 42:31; 3, SPU, Riley Dopps (Zakrzewski), 45:31; 4, SPU, Josie Graybeal, 49:12; 5, SPU, Zakrzewski (Kelsey Jenkins), 49:53; 6, SPU, Lindsay (Jenkins), 58:12; 7, CWU, Brittany Franks (Pate), 80:48.

Shots – SPU 22, CWU 13.
Saves – SPU 4 (Natalie Harold 1, Brooke Yokers 3), CWU 6 (Kori Butterfield 5, Kayla Lipston 1).
Corner kicks – SPU 8, CWU 5.
Fouls – SPU 4, CWU 15.
Offsides – SPU 1, CWU 0.
Attendance – 302.

Records
Seattle Pacific 9-2-0,  6-1-0 GNAC
Central Washington 5-3-3,  4-2-1 GNAC

Next game
Simon Fraser at Seattle Pacific
Thursday, Oct. 13, 7:00 p.m., Interbay Stadium