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PHOENIX, Ariz. – Freshman
Sean Russell will get the glory with the game-winning goal. But Seattle Pacific coach
Mark Collings salutes his defense for Saturday's significant success.
Russell scored the lone goal late in the first half, just seven minutes after entering the game for the Falcons men, who upended 16th-ranked Grand Canyon 1-0 in a non-conference clash at GCU Soccer Field.
SPU won for the eighth time in its last nine outings, improving to 8-2-1. The Antelopes dropped to 7-3-1 and had their unbeaten streak stopped at five games.
"It's a big win because Grand Canyon is having a fantastic season and they are a very good soccer team," said Collings. "From that standpoint it's a quality win that gives our team some confidence.
"But, at the same time we've still got quite a few big challenges ahead of us. We'll enjoy it a bit tonight, but then we'll get back to work."
A product of Seattle's Garfield High School, Russell collected a short clearance by the GCU defense after teammate
Evan Robicheau (Puyallup, Wash./Puyallup HS) dribbled down the flank and served a cross into the box. Russell took a quick touch at the top of the box before directing a strike into the lower left corner at 42:24. That was the third collegiate goal for the midfielder and his second game-winner.
"Sean has really earned the right to get some minutes," Collings said of Russell, who has participated in all 11 games as a reserve. "The nice thing about this group is that we've got guys who have stepped up at different times. Tonight wasn't any different and this time it was Sean's turn with a great goal. He's earned the right to play, his teammates have confidence in him and he came through again."
Zach Johnson (Snohomish, Wash./Snohomish HS) preserved the narrow margin with three saves en route to his sixth shutout.
SPU's junior goalkeeper had help from a sturdy defense that overcame an early Antelopes onslaught. Just two minutes into the contest, GCU fired three successive shots in a one-minute span. The first two shots were blocked and the third, attempted by Maximilian Aust, was stopped by Johnson.
"They had a little spell a couple minutes into the game where it was pretty scary. But then after that we really put the clamps on them," Collings described.
The Falcons contained the nation's second-leading scorer, forward Saeed Robinson, who entered the game with 12 goals. Eleven of his goals were registered during the previous seven games.
Robinson was denied a decent look at the SPU goal Saturday. In fact, after having the game's first shot blocked by an SPU defender, Robinson did not manage another attempt during the final 87 minutes.
"I really like our back line. I know we've hit some tough stretches a little bit, but Jon (Pearman) and Brandon (Kuenzi) in the center of our back line have been really, really good overall," Collings said.
"The Grand Canyon attacking players are a handful. We did a good job of containing them.
Danny Brill and
Richie Evoy and
Evan Robicheau, the outside backs all did a very good job of just kind of making life a little harder for them."
Adam Garcia had one save for GCU, which was outshot by a slim 9-8 margin. His save of a 90th-minute attempt by
Drew Williams stopped the only other shot on goal the Falcons had other than Russell's goal.
The Seattle Pacific men conclude their current eight-game road trip with a pair of league games next week. They visit Montana State Billings on Thursday and Northwest Nazarene on Saturday.
NCAA MEN'S SOCCER
Saturday, October 8, 2011
GCU Soccer Field/Phoenix, Ariz.
Seattle Pacific 1, at (#16) Grand Canyon 0
Scoring – 1, SPU,
Sean Russell, 42:24.
Shots – SPU 9, GCU 8.
Saves – SPU 3 (
Zach Johnson), GCU 1 (Adam Garcia).
Corner kicks – SPU 4, GCU 8.
Fouls – SPU 13, GCU 11.
Offside – SPU 1, GCU 1.
Ejections -- None.
Records
Seattle Pacific 8-2-1
Grand Canyon 7-3-1
Next Game
Seattle Pacific at Montana State Billings
Thursday, Oct. 13; Billings, Mont., 2:30 PDT
