• Boxscore & Play-by-Play

SEATTLE – Sophomore Mackenzie Laird scored in each half Thursday, the first goals of her career for Seattle Pacific, which defeated visiting Saint Martin's 3-0 in a Great Northwest Athletic Conference women's soccer game at Interbay Stadium.

The first-place Falcons (6-0-1) improved to 3-0 in league play. SPU extended its winning streak to five games, having outscored opponents 17-1 during that span.

The Saints (0-5-2) dropped to 0-3 in GNAC games.

SPU freshman Ali Martin (Beaverton, Ore.) started the scoring at 15:32, intercepting the ball after two Saints collided outside their own box. She looped a 25-yard shot over goalkeeper Gina Cardenas that nicked the underside of the crossbar on its way into the goal. That tied Martin for the team lead with three goals this season.

"Two of their defenders crashed into each other and it just kind of popped out," Martin described about how she obtained the ball. "I saw the goalie off her line a little bit so I just hit it and it went in."

Laird (Danville, Calif.) netted her initial goal less than seven minutes later, at 21:56. Megan Lindsay (Spokane, Wash./Gonzaga Prep) received a pass from Josie Graybeal (Gig Harbor, Wash./Gig Harbor HS) and dribbled down the right side of the box before serving a low pass across the goalmouth that found Laird at the left post for an easy tap-in.

In the second half, Laird directed a low, 20-yard blast just inside the right post at 58:28.



"Kenzie played great tonight, she had a lot of energy," said Martin. "We've been working on making back-post runs and she was there the whole night. She was in the right spot and had good finishes."

Laird had two late opportunities for the hat trick, but her first attempt sailed wide. She had a 10-yard attempt in the 87th minute denied by a diving save from SMU reserve goalkeeper Ashley Engel.

Goalkeepers Natalie Harold (Vancouver, Wash./Heritage HS) and Brooke Yokers (Kent, Wash./Kentridge HS) combined for the Falcons fourth consecutive shutout. They have not surrendered a goal in the last 385 minutes.

Harold had two first-half saves before being replaced at halftime by Yokers, who stopped three shots. Yokers made two brilliant diving saves. She dove to deny a hard 25-yard free kick by Nicole Nedervelt in the 70th minute and three minutes later Yokers smothered a 10-yard shot by Hanna Massee, who had broken free into the box.

Cardenas yielded one goal and made one save before departing in the 20th minute. Engel replaced her and had six saves for the Saints, who were outshot by a 23-7 margin.

Despite the shutout victory, Martin doesn't think SPU was in top form.

"It was good to get the win, but we didn't really play how we know we can play. We need to work on keeping possession more and work on the things we do in practice and apply them in the games. We know we can play better than we did tonight.

The Falcons remain at home to host Western Oregon, Saturday at 7:30 p.m.

"We're really excited to play Western Oregon," Martin concluded. "We know we didn't play as well tonight as we could have and we want to prove on Saturday how good of a team we are."


NCAA WOMEN'S SOCCER
Thursday, Sept. 22, 2011
Interbay Stadium/Seattle, Wash.

(#21) Seattle Pacific 3, Saint Martin's 0

Scoring – 1, SPU, Ali Martin, 15:32. 2, SPU, Mackenzie Laird (Josie Graybeal, Megan Lindsay), 21:56. 3, SPU, Laird (Andrea Chan, Heather Young), 58:28.

Shots – SMU 7, SPU 23.
Saves – SMU 7 (Gina Cardenas 1, Ashley Engel 6), SPU 5 (Natalie Harold 2, Brooke Yokers 3).
Corner kicks – SMU 2, SPU 3.
Fouls – SMU 6, SPU 8.
Offsides – SMU 0, SPU 3.
Cautions – None.
Ejections – None.
Attendance – 231.

Records
Seattle Pacific 6-1-0, 3-0-0 GNAC.
Saint Martin's 0-5-2, 0-3-0 GNAC

Next game
Western Oregon at Seattle Pacific
Saturday, Sept. 24, 7:30 p.m., Interbay Stadium