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SEATTLE – Kelsey Jenkins headed in the tiebreaking goal late in the 69th minute on Thursday as 10th-ranked Seattle Pacific rallied from an early one-goal deficit to beat Chico State 2-1 in the women's soccer opener for both teams.

The Falcons (1-0-0) improve their record to 8-1-2 in their first game of the season. They have a 10-0-1 mark in home openers at Interbay Stadium.

The goal by senior midfielder Jenkins (Kent, Wash./Kentwood HS) was the finishing touch on a free kick taken by junior defender Andrea Chan (Vancouver, Wash./Central Catholic HS), who earlier had scored the tying goal for the Falcons. Chan's kick from just beyond the midfield stripe took one bounce in the penalty area in front of Chico goalkeeper Brianna Furner's 6-yard box. Jenkins went up and sent a header into the back left corner at 68:59.



"It just sort of was floating up in the air and I saw it and went after it and headed it in," Jenkins described. "It was sort of awkward positioning turning my body and putting it on frame, but I was able to do it."

Chico State's Lisa Webster stunned Seattle Pacific just 6:09 into the game when she took the ball into the right side of the box 16 yards up from the goal line and drilled a shot into the upper right corner.

Chan converted a penalty kick at 30:23 to tie it at 1-1. Falcons teammate Brandi Hamre was pushed down in the right side of the box just in front of the goal line, and Chan sent her spot kick to the back left corner.

This was the first meeting between SPU and Chico State since the first round of the 2009 NCAA Division II tournament, which resulted in a scoreless tie. The Wildcats advanced by virtue of a 4-3 decision in the penalty kick tiebreaker, stopping the Falcons' bid for a second straight national title.

Coach Chuck Sekyra admitted that his Falcons are capable of playing much better than they displayed Thursday.

"It's always a good sign when you don't play your best game and still win and you come back from a one-zero deficit to win 2-1. I'm proud of that. It's a place to start. I know we can play better and I know we will, but I'm just glad to get the win today."

The Falcons will need to play better in their next outing as they entertain No. 2-ranked UC San Diego on Saturday at 7 p.m. The Tritons, last year's national runner-up, eliminated the Falcons from last year's NCAA tourney with a 2-1 victory in the Sweet 16.

"It's going to be a good game. They are a very strong team and I know we will come out and play hard," Sekyra projected.

"They ended our season last year and I think that's all we need to know going into it."



NCAA WOMEN'S SOCCER
Thursday, Sept. 1, 2011
Interbay Stadium/Seattle, Wash.

(#10) Seattle Pacific 2, Chico State 1

Scoring – 1, Chico: Lisa Webster (unassisted), 6:09; 2, SPU: Andrea Chan (PK), 30:23; 3, SPU: Kelsey Jenkins (Andrea Chan), 68:59.

Shots – Chico 12, SPU 6.
Saves – Chico (Brianna Furner) 0, SPU (Natalie Harold) 4.
Corner kicks – Chico 1, SPU 3.
Fouls – Chico 8, SPU 9.
Offside – Chico 1, SPU 0.
Cautions – Chico: Carly Singer.
Ejections – None.
Attendance – 241.

Records – Seattle Pacific 1-0-0. Chico State 0-1-0.

Next match –
(#2) UC San Diego at (#10) Seattle Pacific,
Saturday, Interbay Stadium, 7:00 p.m.