• Boxscore & Play-by-Play
 
BISMARCK, N.D. – Richie Evoy converted a unique 87th-minute penalty kick out of the hold from teammate Ian Adams, a tactic necessitated by strong winds that were constant Thursday during Seattle Pacific's 1-1 double-overtime men's soccer tie with the University of Mary at the Bismarck Community Bowl.
 
Steady winds of 25 to 30 miles-per-hour gave way to frequent gusts up to 40 mph throughout the 110-minute Great Northwest Athletic Conference contest.
 
The scenario looked more like the setup for a football extra point. SPU coach Mark Collings has never before seen a second offensive player participate on a penalty kick, but he prepared his team for the possibility that uncommon measures might be required due to the wind.
 
“We talked about it before the game, that on goal kicks and any set piece we had to have a holder so the ball wouldn't roll.”
 
The Falcons (9-1-4) saw their league record move to 5-1-4. The four ties are the most they have had in a season since the 2007 squad went 7-6-7 in Coach Cliff McCrath's final year.
 
The host Marauders (3-8-3) are now 2-6-2 in GNAC play. They got on the scoreboard first with a breakaway opportunity into the wind.
 
Alex Boyes sent a through ball to the left side of the box that Rory Pratt ran on to before driving a low, 15-yard shot into the right side of the goal at 59:16. Pratt, who beat SPU's on-rushing goalkeeper Zach Johnson on the shot, now has six of U-Mary's 16 goals.
 
SPU senior Elliot Morton (Tacoma, Wash./Bellarmine Prep) netted what appeared to be the equalizer in the 77th minute, but his goal was disallowed by a delayed offside call.
 
Morton eventually did factor into the tying goal as he was pushed down inside the U-Mary box with 3:34 remaining in regulation to secure a penalty-kick opportunity.
 
With Adams (Shoreline, Wash./Shorecrest HS) kneeling while holding a finger on top of the ball, Evoy (Bend, Ore.) delivered a shot toward the right side. Marauders goalkeeper Michael Frenzel dived to his left and got a hand on the ball, but not enough to prevent it from nestling into the side-netting with Evoy's third tally of the season.
 
Collings lets the players on the field decide who will take penalty kicks, believing that the most confident person will rise to the occasion. Evoy volunteered immediately Thursday despite missing a penalty kick off the right post in SPU's last outing, a 0-0 home tie against Northwest Nazarene.
 
“I never even questioned it. To me the guy that wants the ball will step up and take it and his teammates have confidence in him as well,” said Collings. “There was no hesitation. As soon as the penalty was called I saw Richie step up to take it and he hit it well.”
 
Evoy has converted three penalty kicks in four attempts this season.
 
A senior goalkeeper, Johnson (Snohomish, Wash./Snohomish HS) stopped a season-high seven shots.
 
Frenzel made 12 saves for U-Mary, which was outshot 26-20. The Marauders attempted 15 first-half shots while the wind was at their backs, but tried only five more during the second half and the two, 10-minute overtimes.
 
“All things being considered, for the guys to come back and get a goal was good. I just thought we squandered quite a few opportunities tonight,” Collings said.

“Conditions weren't easy, but it was hard for both teams. As much as we tried to stay mentally strong through it, it wasn't easy. But, we got a tying goal and we're moving on.”
 
The Falcons play their final regular-season road game on Saturday at 5 p.m. Pacific Time against Sioux Falls. Their next home game is a 7 p.m. clash on Thursday, Oct. 25 at Interbay Stadium against Western Washington.
 
 
NCAA MEN'S SOCCER
Thursday, October 18, 2012
Community Bowl/Bismarck, N.D.
 
#9 Seattle Pacific 1, at U-Mary 1 (2ot)
 
Scoring – 1, UM, Rory Pratt (Alex Boyes), 59:16; 2, SPU, Richie Evoy (pk), 86:26.
 
Shots – SPU 26, UM 20.
Saves – SPU 7 (Zach Johnson), UM 12 (Michael Frenzel).
Corner kicks – SPU 11, UM 7.
Fouls – SPU 13, UM 19.
Offsides – SPU 2, UM 2.
 
Records:
Seattle Pacific 9-1-4, 5-1-4 GNAC
U-Mary 3-8-3,  2-6-2 GNAC
 
Next SPU Men's Soccer Game:
(#9) Seattle Pacific at Sioux Falls
Saturday, Oct. 20, 5:00 p.m. PDT, Sioux Falls, S.D.